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Excuses, Excuses, Excuses...
by Kristenea M. LaVelle (Kristenea's bio)

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“And they all with one consent began to make excuse…”
Luke 14:18

How often in our daily lives do we find ourselves in a situation where we are making excuses as to why we can not fulfill an obligation, or help someone out, or even just do what we know to be right. Have excuses become so common place in our society and so socially acceptable that we overlook the underlying problems that they bring? Upon honest examination, have excuses worked their way into your relationship with God, thereby hindering your obedience and trust in Him?

Jesus addressed this very issue in Luke chapter 14, the parable of the great supper. Here, He describes three very important concerns that are common to all of mankind and the way that we, as His disciples, should respond.

“A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready;
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.” Luke 14:16-18

The first category deals with a man who purchased land and wanted to be excused from the invitation to the great supper in order to oversee his property. What is the essence of his excuse? He wants to be released from the invitation so that he can concentrate on his "things”, his newly acquired property. His focus is on himself and what he has, therefore his concern is motivated by his worldly stuff. Spiritually, this speaks of our ties to the world, and this is where we must examine our hearts. Are there things in this world that you are tied to that keep you from putting God first in your life, or that hinder your obedience to Him? Secondly, have you made excuses to God in an effort to sidestep the issue entirely?

“And another said, I have bought five yolk of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.” Luke 14:19

The second category deals with a man who bought oxen and wanted to be excused so that he could “prove them” or work them. What is the essence of his excuse? He is primarily concerned with his business affairs and can not take the time to accept the invitation and attend the great supper. Again, his focus is on himself and his concern is motivated by his “perceived” gain. Spiritually, this speaks of our ties to “money” or our business affairs. Are there financial goals or money concerns that hinder you from following Jesus with your whole heart? Are you consumed with your business affairs to the extent that God is not first in your life? Do your business affairs keep you from walking in complete surrender and obedience to God?

“And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”
Luke 14:20

The third category deals with a man who has just taken a wife. What is the essence of his excuse? His primary focus is on his family, and for this reason he rejects the invitation to the great supper. The apostle Paul explains this further in 1 Corinthians: “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:33). The intent of these scriptures is not that we should forsake any and all concern for our families, but rather, that our family cares and concerns should not take precedence above God in our lives. Mostly, we should not use family cares and concerns as an excuse to disobey the things God has shown us to do. That is the essence of these scriptures.

“So the servant came, and shewed 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 hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind…For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14:21,24

Here we see a picture of what our “excuses” produce and how God feels when we use these excuses in our relationship with Him. We see that it made the host angry that the ones he invited did not find his invitation worthy enough to put aside their worldly cares, business engagements and their family concerns. They were too focused on their own things and had little regard for the host himself. For that, they forfeit the opportunity to partake in the supper, and the host then began to invite anyone he could find to fill the banquet table. After careful examination, do you fall into any of these categories? Have you put God “on hold” in order to focus on the cares and concerns of the world, business, or family in your life? God desires that He should be the primary focus of your life. He must be first in all things, and only when we have that priority established, then shall we see and begin to experience the living God working through our lives to effectively solve these worldly concerns, business affairs and family cares that arise.

In closing, Jesus says “If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and bretheren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27. Truly, Jesus is saying that we must be willing to lay everything aside and follow Him with our entire being. Our hearts must not be divided between Him and everything else in life. We must be “sold out” to Him and willing to forsake everything we have and everything we love in order to walk in complete surrender and obedience to His Lordship in our lives. This is our proper Christian response to the invitation for the great supper. We should greatfully accept that which God invites us to do, and be cautious not to dole out excuses as a way to sidestep the issues and remain focused on our own concerns. God is building a kingdom and He must be able to count on His people as laborers and workers in that kingdom. With that in mind, be of good cheer, put your faith, hope and trust in God and He will give you strength to endure whatever you face in this life.

About Kristenea M. LaVelle: I am a wife of 10 years and a homeschooling mother of five dedicated to teaching and living the truth of Jesus Christ. David and I make our home in Spokane, Washington where we can serve our family and friends with the love of Christ. It was through His direction that I began writing and found myself on a fascinating new journey in life. Now my joy is made complete by writing for Him and about Him. E-mail Kristenea

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