Excuses

Excuses.

An excuse is the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie

Sam Innes.

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

Benjamin Franklin

The “I’m only human” Excuse.

We sang that song today “I’m only human, I’m just a man”.

Well Jesus was only human when he was tested in every way just as we are, and yet without sin. Jesus was only human when he was mocked spat upon and crucified.

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

The “I’m only human” Excuse.

Hebrews 2:9.

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone

Excuses.

A common excuse is “no one is perfect” and it all too often comes from someone who wants to justify rebellion towards God. Each of us is responsible for our own decisions and actions, we cannot use our humanity as an excuse for not obeying God.

If you are sure that God told you to do something don’t be afraid to do it because He will enable you, but you must take the step of faith.

Always examine yourself and ask yourself this question:

“Am I making an excuse”?

Common things Christians make excuses for.

Blaming others for sin instead of taking full responsibility

Lack of Prayer

Not Sharing their faith

Not Reading the Bible

Not going to church

Not giving

Not serving

Not using their God given gifts

Not fulfilling their calling

The “Blame Game”.

A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost.

He reduced his altitude and spotted a man below. He descended a bit more and shouted, Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am.

The man replied, You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.

The “Blame Game”.

You must be in Information Technology, said the balloonist. I am, replied the man, How did you know?

Well, answered the balloonist, everything you told me is technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been of much help at all. If anything you've delayed my trip.

The man below responded, You must be in Management. I am, replied the balloonist, but how did you know?

The man below responded, You must be in Management. I am, replied the balloonist, but how did you know?

Well, said the man, you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems.

The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now somehow, it's my fault.

Blaming others for your sin!

Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:11-13.

Who told you that you were naked? the Lord God asked. Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?

The man replied, It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.

Then the Lord God asked the woman, What have you done?

The serpent deceived me, she replied. That’s why I ate it.

Exodus 32:22-24 (Aaron’s excuse for sin)

Exodus 32:22-24 (Aaron’s excuse for sin)

And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. He said to Aaron, What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?

Blaming others for your sin!

Aaron blamed the people.

Exodus 32:22-24.

Do not be angry, my lord, Aaron answered. You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.

So I told them, Whoever has any gold jewellery, take it off. Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!

Saul’s excuses for disobedience.

1 Samuel 13:7-14.

Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.

So he said, Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

Saul blamed the people and Samuel.

1 Samuel 13:7-14.

What have you done? asked Samuel. Saul replied, When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash.

I thought, Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favour. So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.

Saul blamed the people and Samuel.

1 Samuel 13:7-14.

You have done a foolish thing, Samuel said. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.

Saul excuses for disobedience.

1 Samuel 15:13-29.

When Samuel reached him, Saul said, The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions. But Samuel said, What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?

Saul answered, The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.

Saul’s excuses for disobedience.

1 Samuel 13:7-14.

But I did obey the Lord, Saul said. I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.

But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.

Saul’s excuses for disobedience.

1 Samuel 13:7-14.

Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.

But Samuel said to him, I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel! As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbours to one better than you.

Blaming others.

Remember the man attacked by thieves on the road to Jericho.

Some have said that after the Priest and the Levite had passed by him on the other side of the road, he had 2 others that passed by, they were Psychologists.

The one said to the other one “We must find the men who did this, they need our help”.

We will not have excuses when we stand before the Lord one day.

John 15:22.

They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.

Romans 1:20.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.

We will not have excuses when we stand before the Lord one day.

Romans 2:1 (ESV)

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things

No excuses.

Romans 3:19 (NIV)

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Romans3:19 (CEV)

We know that everything in the Law was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these things to stop anyone from making excuses and to let God show that the whole world is guilty.

Excuses for putting the flesh first.

Esau (Hunger)

Genesis 25:30-34.

And Esau said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore, his name was called Edom.)Jacob said, Sell me your birthright now.

Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?Jacob said, Swear to me now. So, he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus, Esau despised his birthright.

Do you despise things that God has placed value on.

Hebrews 10:24-25.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

There’s a Lion outside.

Proverbs 26:12-16.

The lazy person claims, There’s a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there! As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

Excuses for not going to Church.

Proverbs 26:12-16 (KP)

The lazy person claims, There’s a virus on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a virus out there!

As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed.

There’s a Lion outside.

Proverbs 26:12-16 (AMP)

The lazy person [who is self-indulgent and relies on lame excuses] says, There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square [and if I go outside to work, I will be killed]!

Excuses for not Praying.

Matthew 26:40-45.

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour? he asked Peter.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.

Excuses for not Praying.

Matthew 26:40-45.

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So, he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Excuses for not Praying.

I reckon Daniel had a good excuse for not praying.

“If I pray, I am going to be thrown into the lion’s den

Daniel 6:10-12.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem.

Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Excuses for not Praying.

Daniel 6:10-12.

Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.So, they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree:

Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?

Excuses for not going to “The Lord’s Feast”.

Luke 14:15-20.

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God! Jesus replied with this story:

A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, Come, the banquet is ready. But they all began making excuses.

One said, I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me. Another said, I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me. Another said, I now have a wife, so I can’t come.

Excuses for disobeying God.

James 1:13-15.

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death

We make excuses for not doing things God’s way.

1 Corinthians 1: 18-19.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Naaman’s excuse.

2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be cleansed.

Naaman’s excuse (We have cleaner rivers).

2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)

But Naaman went away angry and said, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed? So, he turned and went off in a rage.

Naaman’s excuse.

2 Kings 5:9-14 (NIV)

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?

How much more, then, when he tells you, Wash and be cleansed!So, he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

Luke 9:59-62 (ESV)

To another he said, Follow me. But he said, Lord, let me first go and bury my father. And Jesus said to him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Yet another said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

“Let me first go and bury my father” That sounds like a good excuse, but we don't even know if the man's father was dead yet.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

One day God spoke to Moses from a burning bush. He was instructed to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let God's people go. Moses then gave his five excuses to God.

The first one is found in Exodus 3:11. “I don't have the ability”, However, Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

The next excuse was, “I don't know what to say”.

Yet, in the book of Acts it says, “Moses was great in words and deeds”.

The third excuse was “I don't have any authority or a position”.

Number four was “I am not a good speaker”.

Number five is found in Exodus 4:13, “Oh my Lord, please send someone else”.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

Exodus 3:10-13.

Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt. But Moses protested to God, Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? God answered, I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.

But Moses protested, If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, The God of your ancestors has sent me to you, they will ask me, What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

Exodus 4:10-14.

But Moses pleaded with the Lord, O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled. Then the Lord asked Moses, Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.

But Moses again pleaded, Lord, please! Send anyone else. Then the Lord became angry with Moses. All right, he said. What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

Judges 6:12-17 (ESV) Gideon

And the Lord turned to him and said, Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?

And he said to him, Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said to him, But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.

Excuses for not fulfilling our calling.

Jeremiah 1:4-10.

Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Then I said, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am only a youth; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.

Do you have a calling on your life?

I believe that the Lord has a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives. He has blessed us with natural abilities and given us gifts to build up and edify one another.

He has called us to equip ourselves for the task He has for us. What is your response to the call of God?

Is it here am I Lord send me, like Isaiah?

Or is it excuses?