What’s Your Excuse?
Jesus replied: “A
certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. … But they
all alike began to make excuses.”
– Luke 16, Luke 18a
It was one of those casual encounters. We’d barely got
the hellos out when she began to make excuses for not being in Sunday school
class. I tried to brush it off and move on. She kept talking anyway.
And it finally pushed my button. I struggled and
barely contained my words. I really don’t care whether she’s in class, in
church, or anywhere else. I don’t mean that harshly. I just believe it’s
between the individual and God.
What I do care about are the excuses. Her words bordered
on lies and I’m being generous when I write that. I’m sure she was tired but
not because of her ongoing illness, her knee or anything else. Facebook tells
all and I knew from the photos that she’d just returned from Disney World.
I’m happy for her. Vacations and fun times are good
things but the sad reality is she’s been in class three times this year. She
always has an excuse but the truth is far simpler than any excuse. She doesn’t
come because she doesn’t want to come. Period.
Jesus told this parable about those who make excuses,
refusing to choose God before all else. Are you attending church regularly?
What about small group? Do you pray daily (and not just for your own agenda!)?
God comes first and everything else behind it. No amount of excuses will make
anything else okay.
We all make choices every day. We prioritize what we value
and we push aside what we don’t value. God gave us free will and these are our
choices to make. Own those choices. Admit them. Don’t make excuses. Don’t try
to rationalize your choices. If you feel guilty, if you are filled with the
need to explain yourself, maybe the Holy Spirit is telling you that you’ve made
the wrong choice.
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