New Year, Old Excuses
1. God has a wonderful plan for our lives.
2. This plan requires our participation.
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV) Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Most of us prefer comfort over change.
“May you stay in one place for the rest of your life.” —Bedouin Tribe
It’s easier to make excuses than it is to change.
Hebrew — “a fabricated cause—constructed after the fact—to justify a decision already made.”
Greek — “to avoid responsibility.”
Together — “An excuse is a false reason we present outwardly to hide a decision we’ve already made inwardly.”
We somehow convince ourselves that our excuses protect our comfort.
Luke 14:15-24 (NLT) Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’
Other Biblical examples…
Adam & Eve — “It’s not our fault.” [Gen. 3]
Abraham & Sarah — “We’re too old.” [Gen. 12]
Moses — “I’m not able.” [Ex. 3-4]
12 Spies — “We’re too small.” [Num. 13]
Barak — “Someone else needs to go first.”
Gideon — “I’m the least.” [Judg. 6]
Saul — “The people made me do it.” ˆ[1 Sam. 15]
Elijah — “I’m the only one left.” [1 Kngs 19]
Jeremiah — “I’m too young.” [Jer. 1]
Jonah — “I’m not interested.” [Jon. 1]
The Rich Young Ruler — “I’m too wealthy.” [Mt. 19]
The man with the one talent — “I was afraid.” [Mt. 25]
Thomas — “Unless I see it…I won’t believe.” [Jn. 20]
Our excuses are often rooted in…
Blame-shifting
Fear of failure
Feelings of inadequacy
Reluctance to take responsibility
Comparison
Fear of discomfort
Loneliness
Fear of rejection
Lack of identity
Busyness
Perfectionism
Circumstances
Unbelief
Spiritual passivity
God rarely changes our future without first changing our choices.
We can make excuses, or we can make progress—but we can’t make both.
There are really only two kinds of Christians in the world: those who make excuses and those who make progress.
1. Decide to take personal responsibility.
Romans 14:12 (NIV) So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
2. Decide to believe that change is possible.
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Matthew 9:29 (ESV) “According to your faith let it be done to you.”
3. Decide to stop waiting for perfect conditions.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV) Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
4. Decide to commit to the process.
Galatians 6:9 (ESV) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
5. Decide to stop making excuses and start making progress.
Every Christian who makes the most progress makes the least amount of excuses, and the Christian who makes the least amount of progress makes the most amount of excuses.