Print this page

EXCUSES I'VE KN0WN AND LOVED!

July 31, 2005

Jeremiah 31:30-34


Excuses are vital! Excuses are grand!

They let us exist with our heads in the sand.

Excuses are needed, We all would agree--

If I'm to blame you, and exonerate me!

Yes, we blame others. We point fingers. We use distractions. We justify and rationalize. We manufacture alibis. We claim our exemptions. In short, most of us will do just about anything to avoid responsibility.


Let's look at some common human "copouts" as applied to spiritual matters.


I. First, people who want to escape their religious responsibilities always say, THERE ARE HYPOCRITES IN THE CHURCH


This is the oldest excuse known to man, and that's what it is--an excuse! We never hear about hypocrites in the school; hypocrites in the office; hypocrites in the stores! We never let hypocrites at work keep us off the job. We never let hypocrites in Hollywood keep us away from the theater. We never let hypocrites in sports keep us out of the ball park! Edgar A. Guest wrote:


Men often sneeringly besmirch

The hypocrites who go to church.

Yet, no one has a word to say,

Of hypocrites who stay away


Of course there are hypocrites in the church! There have always been hypocrites in the church. There are hypocrites everywhere! But we don't let that stop us from doing anything else we want to do!


"There are hypocrites in the church" is not a valid excuse, because we're not to measure ourselves by others. The Scriptures say, "Everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes--his own teeth will be set on edge" (Jer. 31:30).


Paul said, "Each one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:2).


II. Next, people say, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELONG TO CHURCH TO BE A CHRISTIAN!


They say, "I can be a Christian without going to Sunday School"; I can be a Christian without hearing a sermon"; "I don't need the church"; "I don't have to belong to a Church to be a Christian!"


These statements may be true, but are they reasonable? Sure! You can be a rose without a bush; but you won't last long. You can be a hot coal without a fire; but your warmth will soon grow cold! You can be a flame without a candle; but your light will soon go out!


The church is our support system. It's our lifeline! Many people criticize the church and complain about its members, but unfortunately that doesn't help them or it!


Of course churches are very imperfect, because they are made up of human beings. Of course churches are not doing nearly all that they ought to do, but there's another side to this matter. Some churches are trying to reach the poor and lonely. Some churches have been sinned against more than they've sinned.


We need to realize that if we've failed to bear our share of the common load, then we've actually added to the load. If we're not part of the solution; we're part of the problem. A preacher said once he came by a stalled car. An old man and two boys were trying to push it up the hill.


His conscience spoke: "Here's an opportunity for service; you ought to help them push." Another voice protested, "Now, that is none of your business. You'll get yourself all hot and dirty. Let them handle their own affair." He finally yielded to his better impulse.


Then a simple thing happened which he never forgot. The father stuck out his hand and said, "I'm so glad you came along. You had just enough strength, added to ours, to make the thing go."


"You don't have to belong to the church to be a Christian" is not a valid excuse because, our influence and contributions are important. Paul said, "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25b).


The Scripture also says, "Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another" (Heb. 10:25).

III. Then, people say, "THE CHURCH IS ALWAYS ASKING FOR MONEY.


"Offerings, offerings, offerings! That's all they think about. Special campaigns, collections and pledges. Every time I go I have to give. They're always asking for money."


Now, some religious leaders and organizations are guilty of these charges. Some are mercenary and materialistic. Some do "fleece their flocks." Most local churches, however, are very responsible in their stewardship.


It's ironic that these same people who complain so loudly about the church, cheerfully pay to attend movies and concerts and sporting events. They regularly pay for schools and roads and health benefits. They shop in the malls and bid at the auctions. They pay restaurants for the privilege of eating and toll booths for the privilege of driving. They know that nothing is free. They know that anything worthwhile costs somebody something.


Once a quiet man sat in a business meeting of his church as one member after another stood to denounce fund raising and budget goals. Finally he stood, "Brethren, I just want to say one thing. Years ago, a little boy was born into our family. From the moment he appeared, he cost me something. There was food and clothes and medicine and toys and a little cocker spaniel puppy. When he went to school, there were more expenses: There were books and supplies and fees and swimming lessons. Later, while he was in college, we had to get a loan to pay his tuition." The man paused and cleared his throat. "Then, brethren, he died, and since then he hasn't cost me a cent."


Yes, the church costs; but if it's alive and you love it, you'll be glad to pay the cost! They're always asking for money is not a valid excuse, because any important cause deserves our support. The Scriptures say, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8);


Paul said, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35)


"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Cor. 9:7).


IV. Other people say , "I know I need the church, but, I'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME"


They say, "Not right now! I'll do it someday! I'm not ready yet! I've got plenty of time!"


Have you ever heard these phrases? Have you ever made these excuses? Solomon said, "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens" (Ecc. 3:1).


Yes, time is God's gift to us, but how do we manage it? As human beings, we are procrastinators by nature. We do frantic shopping on Christmas Eve. We cram for exams. We wait until the last minute to file our taxes. On April fifteenth, the traffic jams at the Post Office continue until the stroke of midnight.


God gives most of us generations, decades, years, months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds. It seems we have a luxury of time. When we're young, our life stretches out before us as an eternity. We have plenty of time. When someone says, "Take care of your health," we say, "I've got plenty of time!" When someone says, "Prepare your mind with knowledge," we say, "I've got plenty of time!" When someone says, "Think about your soul!" we say, "I've got plenty of time!"


Yet the Apostle Paul says, "Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2).


Why should we avoid procrastination? Why should we consider deeper things? Why should we decide spiritual matters now?


Why is "I've got plenty of time," such a deadly excuse? It's a deadly excuse because, this is the time. The street of "By and By" usually ends up at the house of "Never!"


Life's made up of just two kind of folks,

That's how I view it.

Those who talk about

what should be done,

And those who do it!


I've got plenty of time is not a valid excuse because life is short and we're never sure of tomorrow. James said, The Scripture says, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14).


V. Finally, people say, THEY'LL NEVER MISS ME!


They say, "What can one person do? I'm not important. They'll never miss me!" These are such humble, yet unscriptural excuses! Someone said, "The world is full of willing people: A few are willing to work and the rest are willing to let them!"


Over the years, we've greatly underestimated the strength, the influence and the power of a few good individuals. This is one area where quality is vastly more important than quantity. A minority with truth on its side is truly superior to a majority without it.


The family; the church; the community; the nation; the world; and the kingdom needs each individual person. In a certain jewelry store there was a safe with an inner section where the most valuable gems were kept. The section had five locks and each lock had only one key. A key was given to each of five directors, so that all five had to be present with their keys in order for the precious compartment to be opened. Each one was essential and crucial to the process.


That's an analogy of life. If one letter of the alphabet went on strike, no great literature could be written. If one note of the scale quit sounding, no great music compositions could be presented. If one number disappeared, our scientific community would disintegrate. You are important?


"They'll never miss me" is not a valid excuse because your family, community and nation and world depend on you. The Scripture says, "We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building" (I Cor. 3:9).


So excuses are cop-outs! The church needs you and you need the church!


A flock of geese flew over, honking loudly. They watched the geese pass. "Do you know why they fly in a V formation?" a young man's dad asked. The child shook his head. "I've read that the air behind the leader spreads into a V, something like the wake of a speed boat," continued his dad. "If the other birds follow in that V, the swirl of the air actually gives them a shove forward, making it easier to go a long way without wearing out."


"They're pretty smart," said the boy. Then he pointed to a bird trailing behind the others. "I wonder why that one isn't in the V?


"He probably got distracted or slowed down to rest," guessed the dad. "Now he's having a hard time catching up."


"I'll bet he'll be pretty tired when he gets there," the son said.


"If he gets there at all," Dad added. "God didn't design them to go the distance alone."


God didn't design Christians to go it alone either. We gain strength from the support of other believers. Without it we would be like that last goose-alone and struggling. We all need each other.


After seeing a movie about penguins, a boy decided to do a report on them for extra credit. He was reading a book on penguins when his dad came into the room and asked, "How's your report coming?"


"Good, Dad. I'm learning some really neat stuff. Did you know that when the penguins head for land and search for a nesting place, they march in single file for miles? They don't have any landmarks to guide them, but they never get lost. They use the sun to guide them. Aren't they smart?"


Yes, and it's because God gave them certain instincts when he created them," his dad explained. "God cares about His creation."


"Listen to this," the boy continued. "When the penguin chicks are about three weeks old, they get so hungry that both parents must go out and hunt for food. Then the chicks gather into groups of fifty or sixty. In bad weather they huddle together to keep warm. The stick together for safety, too. If they wander off alone, a sea bird will try to capture them."


That's a good illustration of Christians in a local church," his dad said. "They need to stick together so they can help each other, too."


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --


This message is from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.


You may find other messages and a book list on our Webpage:

www.diversitypress.net .


Regular voice messages: 580-286-3148,


I have had excellent response to my offer to send books for postage only. I have depleted my supply until I only have about 11 books I can share with you, but I will be happy to send you all the books we have available at this time. All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage which comes to about $3.50 (which is the cost, the last time I mailed them). Please wait until you receive your books before remitting.


Even though my stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted. I have most of them on a CD which I will send with your order. All I'll need is your Mailing Address and the Word Processing program you use. (I use Word Perfect, but can supply it in Microsoft Word also).


For those outside the US and Canada, the cost of mailing a CD would be a rather inexpensive way to get copies of our books. You'll have trouble making such a small payment.

All I'll need is your Shipping Address and the Word Processing program you use. (I use Word Perfect, but can supply it in Microsoft Word or ASCII).


I don't plan to have any more books printed, unless there is a demand for them.


To prevent SPAM filters from deleting messages from Diversity Press (Miles Wesner), please add wdiversitypress@aol.com to your address book.


Miles E Wesner