Of all of the keys or principles of success and abundance that are taught, there is ONE that you need to use first.

In fact this key is the foundation to every other principle you can apply to your life to achieve the success and abundance you desire.

What is this key?
Responsibility. Without responsibility (or ownership), you have no foundation to build on.

What do I mean by this?

First here is a question:

Do you accept full responsibility for your life? Another way of putting this would be: Are you taking OWNSHIP of your life?

Do you know that a very high percentage of the population live in “blame mode”. Just yesterday, I was reading the story of Jacob and Esau in the Bible and saw something I had not seen before. (And that is what sparked the inspiration for this article).

A true story:
I am sure you have at least heard of the story of Esau who sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils. Yes, that’s right. Esau was hungry when he came in from the field and smelled that delicious aroma of something that Jacob had on the stove. In that rash moment, the only thing that mattered to Esau was he was hungry, and he smelled delicious food.

Cunning brother:
Jacob was always very cunning and was quick to take advantage of the situation. When Esau asked for a bowl of soup (lentils – or “potage” as the Bible translation calls it), Jacob replied: “Sell me your birthright”. At that moment, Esau’s focus was so blurred he replied, “Well I am going to die anyway if I don’t eat, so what good is my birthright” (my paraphrase). So Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup.

You can read the story in Genesis 25:29-34 in the Bible.

Ok – so here is the big question: Who made the decision to give away their birthright? – Esau right?

But check this out: In Genesis 27 we find the story of Isaac (their father) giving the blessing of the first born to Jacob (Esau was the first born remember). Then Esau comes in from the field to prepare a meal for his father and receive his father’s blessing, only to discover that Jacob had already taken it.

So Esau cries and says “he took away my birthright“. (Genesis 27:36).

Wait a minute! Sure the way that Jacob obtained the birthright was rather deceptive (you can read the full story in Genesis 27 in the Bible), but did he REALLY take it?

What Esau had forgotten is that he actually gave it away!

Did Esau HAVE to give away his birthright? Was he forced to?

No, the decision was made by Esau!

He sold it for a bowl of lentils, remember? But now that Esau is facing the consequences of this rash words, he is busy blaming Jacob, his brother. Jacob would not have succeeded in “taking” the birthright, if he had not have already given it away.

Do you get the picture? Your words spoken in a rash moment (or in any moment) WILL bring fruit. These words WILL come back to bite you. Words are like seeds. When you sow them (think or speak them), they WILL bring a harvest. When harvest time comes, you have a decision to make:

Will you accept full responsibility for the harvest and deal with it?

or

Will you start blaming others?

The first step towards turning your life around and walking towards the abundant, successful life is to leave the BLAME ZONE, and start taking responsibility for your own decisions.

Are you ready to do that? I am sure you are.

Take that step right NOW!

Don’t forget to leave a comment before you leave. See you here again very soon.

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