EXCUSES

 

Selective Justification of Time

An excuse is something offered as justification for a failure to do something or be somewhere. Telling you that I missed our appointment because I lost track of time is as much an excuse as telling you I missed it because I had a heart attack. What makes an excuse unacceptable is not the degree to which the reason is untrue but rather, the habitual nature of its occurrence. For instance, if I always seem to have a heart attack every time we are suppose to meet, then perhaps there is something more hideously wrong than a medical condition. Or if you are always losing track of time, it might be an indicator of how unimportant our meeting is to your life. All excuses fall into one of three categories. Some are excuses of the flesh justified by temporal conditions. Some are excuses of life justified by logistical constraints while the rest are spiritual excuses justified by our differing doctrines. “But they all alike began to make excuses…” (Lk 14:18).

Excuse My Flesh

When someone tells you they are too busy to do what you are doing, they are saying that their time and resources are occupied elsewhere. If I tell you I am too busy to read my Bible, then I am telling you that I prefer to spend my time on things I consider more important. “We hear that some of you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies” (2Thes 3:11). Typically, our busyness is just a cover up for idleness in other areas. If I am busy at work, then I am idle with my family or if I am busy watching movies then I am idle with my reading or if I am busy with nonchristian friends then I am idle in my fellowship. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little… Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house” (Haggai 1:9). Preoccupation with self is simply sin. And there’s no reasonable excuse for sin.

Excuse My Life

Two thorns that often choke out the kingdom of God in the lives of Christians are family and work (or school for college students). Jesus tells us that those who come to Him and do not hate their families cannot be His disciples (Lk 14:26). He tells us that our families will turn against us (Mk 13) and was an example of the same occurring in His own life (Mk 3). The people of Israel used their children as an excuse for not entering the Promise Land (Num 14:3-4) and were told by God that He would kill the parents and allow the children they used as justification for their disobedience to be the recipients of His inheritance (Num 14:26-33). Others devote all their time to their work or studies thinking, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col 3:17). We give so much of our lives to satisfy our temporal cravings that we allow the benefits we receive from such investments to be our excuses for not obeying His commands. God has called me to minister to my family before others and so like the children of Israel, we neglect others for the sake of our flesh. My work or school is my pulpit and so we strive for A’s or lofty evaluations on earth but will receive our eternal due at the judgement seat of Christ. We had better not allow our earthy duties to excuse us from our heavenly ones or there will be hell to pay when we face the Author of our lives.

Excuse My Faith

In Luke 9:57-62, we read of three men who excused themselves from following Jesus because the cost outweighed their temporal gain. One was told that Jesus does not lay His head down upon this earth. A second was ordered to “Let the dead bury their own dead,” while a third was warned, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Many Christians use their faith as a reason for not obeying God’s commands. I am saved by faith am not required to give my life to habitual disciplines like quiet times, scripture memory or one on one discipleship. They justify their laziness by God’s forgiveness. Other Christians use God’s love to excuse them from His commandments. God’s love is unconditional, so I don’t have to earn it by making disciples. Jesus said that in order to remain in His Father’s love, He had to obey God’s commands (Jhn 15:9,10). We excuse ourselves as His followers when we do not live by His standards. Lastly, Christians use religion as an excuse for blatant disobedience. Praise songs are my ministry or I tithe or I was baptized or seminary taught me or I help the poor. Our works will never appease Him when He tells us, “I never knew you.” Jesus asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say” (Lk 6:46)? What’s your excuse?