What's Your Excuse?

Excuses. We all make them. Often times they are used to save face with others. Sometimes we use them to "keep from hurting someone's feelings." Most of the time we use excuses as an opportunity to pass the buck and avoid taking the blame for something. There is an interesting quote by Howard Wright about excuses that says, "Excuses are lies wrapped up in reasons." We all know people who give excuses for everything and never take the blame for their shortcomings. The problem with making excuses on a regular basis is that eventually people lose respect and trust in those who constantly make excuses. Our best bet is to own up to our shortcomings, learn from our mistakes, and grow from the experience.

When it comes to our faith, people make plenty of excuses to cover up a multitude of shortcomings. Why don't you pray every day? I don't have enough time. Why don't you read your Bible every day? Its too hard to understand. Why don't you attend worship at church?  I'm busy. I'm tired. I'm _______ (fill in the blank with your favorite excuse). Why don't you serve God in the church? I don't have any spiritual gifts or talents. We can make up plenty of excuses. Yes, I used the right term there. We "make up" or "create" excuses for those areas of spiritual disciplines we are supposed to do, but yet fail to do. Here's the point of all of this. Our excuses don't hold water now and they definitely won't hold water when we stand before Almighty God. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV) tells us, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." That means that our excuses will be tossed aside when we stand before God and are examined for what we did with what He gave us in this life (2 Corinthians 5:10). That means our time, our resources, our abilities, and everything else God has given to us will be examined to see how we used them. The interesting part is that we won't have anything to stand on if all we have are excuses about being tired, busy, or some other excuse.

Here's my encouragement to you today. Get rid of the excuses when it comes to the things that are keeping you from growing spiritually. Everyone is tired. Everyone is busy. Everyone is ___________(fill in the blank with your favorite excuse). "If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not you'll find an excuse." is a quote I read recently and boy is it true. If growing spiritually is important to you, then you'll find a way to do it. Otherwise you'll find an excuse. The choice is yours.


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