“And they all with one consent began to make excuse…” Luke 14:18-20
They all had the same state of mind, and that is, they all chose to use an excuse to get out of accepting the invitation. Though they didn’t all use the same excuse, they all had the same reason for resorting to the use of their excuse.
Their excuses manifested their priorities. Rather than excuse themselves from their other involvements to come, they excused themselves from coming in order to do the other things. And rather than the excuse justify their decision, it just let the inviter know they preferred other things rather than accept the invitation.
But the issue was not about what the excuse was, but what an excuse does: “For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper,” v24. Whether the excuse was great or flimsy, it just eliminated the individuals from becoming a partaker. A person may have a good excuse for missing their flight, but that won’t get them on the airplane.
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Luke 13:24 While an excuse may console the conscience, it will do nothing to meet the need of the soul. A runner who resorts to excuses instead of running, will lose out on every race.
Resorting to excuses distorts good judgment. Some have to have greater health to go to church than they need to go any place else. Often, it takes more sleep to allow one to go to church than it does to go to work. Some can’t get the right amount of clothes to get them to church. Some manage to get all of their other involvements taken care of, but are always too swamped to attend church.
Invoking an excuse instead of exercising faith, will just leave one without excuse as they stand in judgment before God. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
SHARING
