2/8/19

Excuses by Gary Rose



Well, here is one that I haven’t heard before; remind me to stay just as far as I can from THAT REFRIGERATOR. Of course those magnets have nothing at all to do with this person’s weight loss problem. The problem is the person, period. But, as long as they were trying to avoid loosing weight, this EXCUSE is just as good as any other.

Excuses are not limited to just loosing weight, they can apply to almost any topic you can imagine...

Luke 14 ( World English Bible )
 12  He also said to the one who had invited him, When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.   13  But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;   14  and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” 

  15  When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in the Kingdom of God!” 

  16  But he said to him, A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.   17  He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’   18  They all as one began to make excuses. (emphasis added)

“The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. (emphasis added) Please have me excused.’

  19  Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. (emphasis added) Please have me excused.’ 

  20  Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’ (emphasis added)

  21  That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ 

  22  The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’ 

  23  The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.   24  For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’” 

Three excuses, and all sound reasonable enough. Yet, they all have something in common; misplaced priorities. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus’ parable comes right after his statement about feasting in the kingdom of God? Right about now, many out there are saying something like – “That doesn’t apply to me, I’m a faithful Christian.” OK, you may be, but have you missed a worship service or a mid-week Bible study because something came up? Humm, tell me all about that refrigerator you own – Does it have magnets?