Thank God It's Friday!
How is your week going? Hope it hasn't been too stressful.
This week's post was inspired by a friend of mine, she's a regular reader and writer on my blog. We had a discussion about giving excuses and the role of Christians.
In the Bible, Luke 14:15-24, Jesus told a parable of the Great Feast, also known as the Parable of the Banquet.
Jesus was asked by one of the guests sitting at the table that, how happy are those who will sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God!
Jesus said to the guest, there was once a man who was giving a great feast to which he invited many people. When it was time for the feast, he sent his servant to tell his guest, 'Come, everything is ready!
But they all began, one after another, to make excuses.
The first one told the servant, 'I have bought a field and must go and look at it; please accept my apologies.
Another one said, I have just gotten married, and for that reason I cannot come. The servant went back and told all this to his master. The master was furious and said to his servant, "Hurry out to the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.
Soon the servant said, Your order has been carried out, sir, but there is time for more. So the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the country roads and lanes and make people come in, so that my house will be full.
Jesus told them that, I tell you that none of those who were invited will taste my dinner!".
Are you making excuses for not accepting and welcoming Jesus into your life?
Are you making excuses for the bad habits that you have developed?
Are your excuses justifiable if you think carefully about them?
Are you making excuses for the way you are relating with others?
Reverend George Adeboye, Rhema Chapel, Ilorin, Nigeria stated the following:
Excuse is an invalid reason for neglect of duty. It is trying to remove blame for something from ourselves. It is said in defense of a particular action but without justification. It is an unwarranted reason given in defense of an action or inaction.
Reasons why people give excuses
1. It is easy to make or give excuses.
2. It is the way they have learnt to live their lives. Psalm 15:4
3. They don't want to be inconvenienced, don't want to make sacrifices. Heb. 13:16, Christianity is a lifestyle of sacrifice.
4. We believe we are the only one in the position in which we are.
5. People give excuses because they think God understands and He has pardoned them for their actions. No excuse is acceptable to God. Luke 14:15-25. Excuses have no weight before God.
6. Because they are only thinking about themselves Philip. 2:4. Excuses are born out of a selfish heart, think about others
7. We believe we will have another opportunity next time. There would not be another opportunity to make a first impression. Deut.33:25
The basic characteristics of excuses
1. Every excuse at the first appearance looks reasonable but a second look shows it isn't reasonable.
2. Though they are made to explain behaviour but they cover the real motives.
3. It puts the blame on something or someone else
4. We simply say certain other things are more important than God.
5. Excuses are about little things and lawful things not in their proper places.
6. Those who make them are the worst for it. At the end of the day, you lose out.
Reasons why people give excuses
1. It is easy to make or give excuses.
2. It is the way they have learnt to live their lives. Psalm 15:4
3. They don't want to be inconvenienced, don't want to make sacrifices. Heb. 13:16, Christianity is a lifestyle of sacrifice.
4. We believe we are the only one in the position in which we are.
5. People give excuses because they think God understands and He has pardoned them for their actions. No excuse is acceptable to God. Luke 14:15-25. Excuses have no weight before God.
6. Because they are only thinking about themselves Philip. 2:4. Excuses are born out of a selfish heart, think about others
7. We believe we will have another opportunity next time. There would not be another opportunity to make a first impression. Deut.33:25
The basic characteristics of excuses
1. Every excuse at the first appearance looks reasonable but a second look shows it isn't reasonable.
2. Though they are made to explain behaviour but they cover the real motives.
3. It puts the blame on something or someone else
4. We simply say certain other things are more important than God.
5. Excuses are about little things and lawful things not in their proper places.
6. Those who make them are the worst for it. At the end of the day, you lose out.
Bible Quiz:
1) Are you aware of any biblical characters that did not give excuse or blame someone else for his or her actions?
1) Are you aware of any biblical characters that did not give excuse or blame someone else for his or her actions?
2) Are you aware of a biblical character that gave excuses and faced the consequences?
Enjoy your weekend!
- Myss Lafunky
Photo credit: http://www.keepcalmandposters.com/ and http://ymagazine.com.au/
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