What's Your Excuse?

In the 14th chapter of Luke, Jesus tells the story about a man who held a banquet, and invited his friends to come, but they all made excuses. Said one, "I've bought some land, and must go look at it." Said another, "I've just bought several yoke of oxen, and must try them out." And a third said, "I just got married, and of course, you understand, I cannot come. I pray you, have me excused."

Do our excuses to God make any sense at all, or are they pure evasion...just plain selfishness? For one reason or another, we simply cannot give as much to the church, nor can we offer our time...because, well simply because we can't. After all, the Lord must know how tough things are.

In the record found in one old farmer's diary, were these entries: "Today we buried Jacob's only son, age three. Fourth death already from summer's complaint. Pray God this heat breaks soon." In a later record, we read, "a horde of grasshoppers swarmed onto the farm, methodically and monstrously devouring every green, growing thing." The effects of this were recorded in his final entry (Dec. 3l, 1874) for that year: "I harvested this year: from 8 acres of corn, nothing. From 36 acres of wheat, 350 bushels. From 6 acres of oats, feed only. From 2 acres vegetables and potatoes, seed only, scarce, and poor quality." Many farmers would quit after that. He didn't. And later that same night, he turned the page and wrote: Jan. 1, 1875. "A fresh new year, Thanks be to God!"

There are those who argue that the Lord may come again, sometime in the future. There are many of us who believe that, in a sense, He has already come...that He is here now! Do we believe that? The Lord of Hosts is here. The King of Kings is among us. The Owner of the Vineyard has returned, and He is calling us to service. Do we live with that kind of Presence upon us? If not, then what is your excuse?