Excuses, Excuses

A great man gave a magnificent feast. He invited many saying, "Come for all things are now ready." But as the story goes, "they all with one consent began to make excuse.” This is not just any story; it is one of Jesus' parables (Luke 14:16-24). It reveals the answer that is often given to God is an excuse.

Everyone makes them, but excuses are often simply attempts to justify our failures to take responsibility. Moses is one of the most famous excuse-givers. God called him to lead and serve, and even though Moses was in the presence of God, he still made excuses (Exodus 3:11-12, 13-22, 4:1-9, 10, 13, 10-12). What makes this passage most interesting is that God responded to every one of his excuses and set him straight. 

People still make excuses as to why they cannot serve God. What if God responded to our excuses the way He did to Moses'? Well, He does respond through His Word: 

• Man's excuse: “I haven’t got time”. God's response: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33).
• Man's excuse: “Someone else will do it”. God's response: "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin." (James4:17)
• Man's excuse: “It can’t be done”. God's response: “With God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).
• Man's excuse: “I’m just too tired”. God's response: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
• Man's excuse: “I'll do it some other time”. God's response: “Now is the acceptable time” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
• Man's excuse: “But I don’t like to do that”. God's response: “For even Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:3).
• Man's excuse: “Let them help themselves”. God's response: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
• Man's excuse: “I can’t”. God's response: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

   So now, what's your excuse?

-- Josh Allen (Pikeville, KY)