I BELIEVE MY EXCUSES --- TOO BUSY…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Christianity is much different than many of the other world religions. Religion tends to be about rules, ceremonies and traditions. Christianity should be built on PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS…. Excuses are relationship killers.
*EXCUSE: ATTEMPT TO LESSEN THE BLAME, to try to justify, to release from duty, no requirements, explanation to justify, poor example
*OFFERING: TO OFFER, CONTRIBUTION, TO GIVE.
WILL WE ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DANGEROUS OFFERING EXCUSES CAN BE… IN REAL LIFE WE LEARN DIVINE TIMING AND DIVINE DELAYS ARE GREAT TEACHING TOOLS IN THE WORD OF GOD…
WE OFFER EXCUSES TO AVOID STICKABILITY… EXCUSES CAN HINDER OUR REACHING OUR POTENTIAL…
THE FIRST EXCUSE IN THE BIBLE WAS OFFERED BY A MAN TO GOD… HE EXCUSED HIS ACTIONS BY BLAMING THE WOMAN AND THEN BLAMING GOD.
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
EVE PASSES THE BUCK… no repentance with excuses.
Genesis 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
SEEMS THE PEOPLE OF GOD POLISHED THEIR SKILLS OF MAKING THE OFFERING OF EXCUSES…
MOSES: The great man of God offered at least 5 excuses that almost hindered him…
Exodus 4:1And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.
Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
GIDEON was full of excuses…and doubt.
Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.
16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
FOLLOW ME? I CAN’T--- TWO EXCUSES…
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
TOO BUSY? EXCUSES APPEAR GOOD AT FIRST… THE SURFACE EXPOSES TROUBLE…A CERTAIN MAN GAVE A GREAT SUPPER… IT IS A GOOD TRAIT IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER OVER A MEAL.
In a good relationship there is a lesson: BLESSED IS HE THAT SHALL EAT BREAD TOGETHER IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. The Master desired to COME TOGETHER WITH HIS PEOPLE. The Master went to great expense to prepare an opportunity to BE WITH the Master at his table… The invitation: Everything is READY?
Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
Luke 14:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
ALL EXCUSES ARE ACCEPTABLE TO THOSE THAT OFFER THEM… THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF EXCUSES THAT COVER ALL TYPES OF EXCUSES…
Luke 14:18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
YOU KNOW HE HAS ALREADY SEEN THE LAND OR HE IS A FOOL. (MATERIALSIM)
Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
YOU KNOW YOU WOULD NEVER BUY A CAR WITHOUT A TEST DRIVE? He could buy blind oxen? (BUSINESS/PLEASURE)
Luke 14:20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
THIS EXCUSE IS RELATIONSHIP/ SCHEDULING.
NO EXCUSE IS ACCEPTABLE.
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
ASK YOURSELF: DO I REALLY WANT TOO…??? YOU CAN OVERCOME MAKING THE OFFERING OF EXCUSES… 38 YEARS VS. DO YOU DESIRE TO GET BETTER? I HAVE ACCEPTED MY OWN EXCUSES… 38 CHRONIC YEARS…
John 5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
CONCLUSION: OFFERING EXCUSES BECOMES HABITUAL WITH REINFORCED BEHAVIOR.
*We tend to say this excuse is not an excuse.
*It is easier to offer and believe your excuse than to get up and change.
*Excuses are contagious and have tolerance built in them.
*There are several dangers of making the offering of excuses. The more excuses you offer the better you get at making more excuses.
*He who makes excuses accuses himself…
*When you first offer excuses you might feel guilty, then you will sear your conscious. You will lose your convictions.
*The more excuses you offer the more you will believe your own excuses and accept them as truth.
*To lie and to offer excuses are kissing cousins… the longer you make excuses and lie the more you will see them as honest truth.
*As you offer excuses you will miss some good opportunities.
*EXCUSES ALWAYS END IN REGRETS….
Ben Franklin said: HE THAT IS GOOD AT MAKING EXCUSES IS SELDOM GOOD FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
In 1953 QUEEN ELIZABETH II WAS CROWNED QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
The 1953 Invitations to the CORONATION were inscribed: “ALL EXCUSES CEASE.”
In other words there is no RSVP --- YOU ARE EXPECTED TO BE THERE FOR THE CORONATION, THERE WILL BE EXCUSES ACCEPTED…
All excuses cease.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Teach this lesson well…
