Yesterday I tried to write my weekly Bible Blurb, but I had strained my back and just did not feel up to writing as I was in pain. I made excuses about why I could not fulfill my weekly goal of writing a Bible Blurb. Instead of writing I went to the chiropractor. I found by the end of the day I had been making excuses for myself. I was tired. Yes, I hurt but I was still making excuses. Some of us may remember the famous comedian from 60 years ago named Flip Wilson. He became famous for telling jokes about the devil and then saying, “The devil made me do it.” Excuses, excuses, excuses seem to rule us at times. We all have a job to do, and we should not be making excuses for not doing what God has asked us to do. Jesus never made excuses.
Let’s not feel so special about making excuses as we are not the first to do so. Adam and Eve started making excuses and we carried on making excuses. God called out to Adam and Eve and asked where they were and why did you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Adam said, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” (Gen. 3:12b [NKJV]). Adam made an excuse and blamed Eve. Then Eve said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen. 3:13b). Eve made an excuse and blamed the devil. Excuses, excuses.
What has God asked us to do and are we making excuses as to why we do not do what He asks of us? On the night He was betrayed Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34). Do we do this or do we make excuses? Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). Do we do this or do we make excuses? Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (Matt. 28:19-20a). Do we do this or do we make excuses? Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Do we do this or do we make excuses? Jesus said, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.” (Mal. 3:8). Do we do this or do we make excuses? The author of Hebrews says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Heb. 10:25). Do we do this or do we make excuses?
Excuses: I can’t go to church because… Too far. Too cold. Too hot. The people are mean. The seats are not comfortable. I don’t need to… Don’t want to. Gas is expensive. I have no transportation. No time. No money. Too busy. Too tired. I’m sick (Oh my aching back). I don’t understand. Too old. Too young. The minister corrects me. I don’t like potluck meals. I don’t like the music they play. Excuses, excuses.
The 12 spies of Israel were sent into the promised land to spy out and bring back a report. Ten of the 12 spies reported, “Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.” “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Num. 13:27-29, 31-33). Ten of the 12 spies were not allowed into the promised land because they made excuses, excuses.
Jonah was commanded by God to go to Nineveh and cry out to them about their great wickedness. Jonah made excuses not to go and ended up smelling rather fishy. Swallowed whole and in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights before he was vomited up on shore to head off to Nineveh. He made excuses and God sent Him anyway. We might smell fishy when we make excuses too.
The Philistine giant Goliath was defying the armies of God. Saul was scared, faithless and would not go to battle against the giant Philistine. Then a young shepherd boy named David came along and simply asked what would happen to the man who killed the giant? When King Saul heard of the young shepherd he called for David and David spoke with the king. “Then David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.’” (I Sam 17:32-33). Saul was making excuses.
Jesus encountered excuses from the local people of Judea. (See Luke 9:57-62). They said they would follow Him wherever He went. But when asked to join Him they made excuses. “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” (vs.59b). “Lord, I will follow You but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” (vs. 61). Excuses, excuses.
What excuses do we make for putting something between us and God? Jesus always put God first and we should do the same! “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done…” (Matt. 6:9). God first, no excuse. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex. 20:3). God first, no excuse. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matt. 22:37). God first, no excuse. Jesus made no excuses!
We make excuses about tithing, church attendance, following God’s commandments, preaching the gospel, evangelizing and loving each other. By now, one would think God is tired of excuses from humanity. James, the younger brother of Jesus tells us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22). No excuses! Just do it! Our excuses are solved by obedience to DOING what Jesus has told us to do. Preach the gospel. Obey His commandments. Attend and fellowship at church services. Tithes and offerings. Again, James tells us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26). No excuses.
Joshua after Moses died led the Israelites into the promised land. God’s words to Joshua are as applicable to us as they were to Israel. “…do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may prosper wherever you go…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:7b, 9). No excuses.
Be strong and courageous as you lead your Christian life. Make no excuses for not doing what God has commanded us to do.
Mike Wallace
