What is an excuse? It can be described as: a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense. Or a reason for not performing a task.
People make all kinds of excuses for negative behaviour such as, why you were late for work, or why you offended someone. Perhaps it was in retaliation because they did something you did not like. And the list can go on and on.
People also make excuses when asked to do an unpleasant duty that they feel they do not want to do or are not qualified to perform.
In the Bible, we read of many people who made excuses.
Firstly, we will read about people who made excuses for negative behaviour and then others who made excuses for duties they did not feel qualified to do. Let us read them carefully so we do not make the same kind of mistakes and offer excuses.
One of the most common times people make excuses is after they sinned. Their sin is found out, and they are embarrassed about it. The first person who made an excuse was Adam, and the second was Eve, after they had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge.
They could not give the Lord any good reason for their sin. Adam simply said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12. Eve said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:13. They were very lame excuses, to say the least.
Adam’s response was a devious and evasive apology to an embarrassing situation that he found himself in. He had disobeyed God due to his love for Eve, and now he blamed her for his sin. Eve also had an answer—blaming the serpent. Neither denied the fact that they ate the forbidden fruit, but each sought to escape blame by incriminating someone else. The only difference was that Eve said she was deceived and Adam admitted that his act was deliberate.
This scenario has played itself out over and over again for the past 6000 years—people making excuses for their sin when it is found out.
Then we have the excuse that King Saul made after he defeated the Amalekites. He was told to destroy every living thing, man and animal. Yet he chose to save the animals, and why? He made an excuse and blamed the people by saying, “The people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.” 1 Samuel 15:15. It was seemingly a good reason. He evaded fault by saying that it was not him, but it was the people who saved the animals for the purpose of sacrificing to the Lord. Was this not a good reason for doing what they did? It seems positive. Like Adam and Eve, though, he sought to blame someone else for his sin. This clearly shows his spiritual decline. Had he told the people to destroy all the animals, they would have obeyed their king, just in the same manner as he ordered them not to eat food on the day that they put the Philistines to flight. “The people had obeyed Saul’s directions; but in order to shield himself, he was willing to charge upon them the sin of his disobedience.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 630
Regardless of the situation and whether it seems like a good idea, it is never ever safe to disobey the Lord and then make an excuse. In essence, the king was saying that the Lord was wrong in wanting to destroy so many innocent animals, and that he was right. He did a noble and honourable thing. But, it was very selfish—if he sacrificed the enemy’s animals, he did not have to sacrifice his own, thus his wealth would increase.
In contrast we have King David, who made no excuses, but clearly confessed his sin. His sin was far more grievous than that of King Saul. It was a premeditated murder after he had committed adultery with one of his best friend’s wives. He made no excuses. He very sorrowfully repented. “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.” 2 Samuel 12:13. Then he prayed, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalms 51:7. David prayed not only for forgiveness but also for a clean heart. This gives hope to every sinner. No sin is too great that God cannot forgive if one is genuinely repentant. “David awakens as from a dream. He feels the sense of his sin. He does not seek to excuse his course, or palliate his sin, as did Saul; but with remorse and sincere grief, he bows his head before the prophet of God, and acknowledges his guilt.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1023
True repentance is changing one’s attitude towards sin. The things we once loved, we now hate. Men often sin because they love the sin. Only when they make a complete change in their attitude towards sin, and by the help of the Lord, put away that sin, will true repentance be found. The old man must be crucified—destroyed. “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
Also Zaccheaus, whose sin Jesus pointed out, confessed. He responded by saying, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Luke 19:8. He did not make any excuses. He repented and made restitution for his past sins. He did not just stop at repentance and a promise to do better in the future; no, he made restitution.
We all have made mistakes. ”For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) but we are counselled to “acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God.” Jeremiah 3:13. Repentance and acknowledgement of sin are prerequisites to forgiveness. Nothing must be kept back. There must be no vain excuses.
How do you react when someone comes to you and quietly points out a mistake you have made? It may be something you thought no one knew about. Or then, it may be something you were not aware of; you did not realize you had done something wrong, for example, perhaps you offended someone unintentionally. Perhaps it is the church leader who brought you the gentle counsel. But, what if it was the newest member in the church, or someone much younger than you? How would you react? Hopefully, we react like King David and Zacchaeus and not like King Saul and Adam and Eve.
“The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. No matter how severe the pressure brought to bear upon you, sin is your own act. The seat of the difficulty is the unrenewed heart.” –The Adventist Home, p. 331
“Can we not understand that the most costly thing in the world is sin? It is at the expense of purity of conscience, at the cost of losing the favor of God and separating the soul from Him, and at last losing heaven. The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit of God and walking contrary to Him has cost many a one the loss of his soul.” –Faith and Works, p. 17. So, just give it up, acknowledge it and repent. Do not make any excuses or blame circumstances or other people.
Another time people often give excuses is when they are given a challenging and very difficult and unpleasant duty. They may often try to make excuses to get out of doing the task.
Some people made excuses in the Bible, but were humble enough to go forward, with the coaxing of the Lord. The Lord promised to be with them.
We have Moses who, “said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11. “The burden of God’s work, laid upon Moses, made him a man of power. While keeping, for so many years, the flocks of Jethro, he gained an experience that taught him true humility. But God’s call found Moses, as it will find us, inefficient, hesitating, and self-distrustful. The command to deliver Israel seemed overwhelming; but, in the fear of God, Moses accepted the trust. Mark the result: He did not bring the work down to his deficiency; but in the strength of God he put forth the most earnest efforts to elevate and sanctify himself for his sacred mission.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 611
Who could think of a more challenging task than leading over 1 million people with their flocks and herds through the desert for 40 years? Moses went and the Lord blessed him.
Then we have the example of Jeremiah. He also made excuses, but he went forward. “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah 1:6–9. The Lord refused to accept Jeremiah’s excuses. When the Lord commands, thoughts of self are out of place. There remains but one duty—the duty to obey. The Lord did promise to assist and protect the prophet, so he went. “In the youthful Jeremiah, God saw one who would be true to his trust and who would stand for the right against great opposition. In childhood he had proved faithful; and now he was to endure hardness, as a good soldier of the cross.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 407
Jonah was another one who did not like the task given him of the Lord and he simply ran away. The Lord did go after him, and turned him onto the right track and he eventually went, after spending three days in the belly of a whale.
The Lord does not always go after those who refuse to do their duty. We have the case of Hazen Foss and William Foy in the time of Ellen White. They were given the unpleasant task of relating a message from the Lord. They refused, offering whatever excuse they could think of. The spirit of the Lord was removed from them and given to the weakest of the weak in the church—a young 17 year old girl who had sustained a severe head injury. The Lord is never dependent on any man. If someone absolutely refuses to fulfil the duty, He will find someone else who is willing.
The Lord has a duty for you. If it is unpleasant, He has promised to be with you. Do not make excuses as to why you cannot perform the duty.
We should be like Isaiah. When the Lord asked him, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” He could have suggested many different possible people who could go and perform the duties of the Lord, but no, instead he said, “Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8. Isaiah’s response was immediate. He did not hesitate, to try to think it through, thinking of all the difficulties he may face. He did not say, he would think about it for a week and discuss it with his family and friends. No, His only thought was to do the will of the Lord, whatever it may be.
Or Elisha—as soon as he received the call of the Lord, “he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.” 1 Kings 19:20–21. Elisha’s response was also immediate. He sacrificed his animals, turned his back on his past and went forward by faith to enter the service of the Lord. He came from a wealthy family and did not consider the fact that he would have much less material wealth as a prophet. “When he was first summoned, his resolution had been tested. As he turned to follow Elijah he was bidden by the prophet to return home. He must count the cost–decide for himself to accept or reject the call. But Elisha understood the value of his opportunity. Not for any worldly advantage would he forgo the possibility of becoming God’s messenger, or sacrifice the privilege of association with His servant.” –Education, p. 59
In the time of Jesus, when He called His disciples, we read that they left their occupations and did not stop to consider the possible consequences. The Lord called, and they answered and followed.
Do you make excuses as to why you cannot do particular duties in the church? Do you feel that it is not your responsibility to give Bible Studies or go out canvassing? It is the duty only of the missionary in the church? Our excuse is that we tell ourselves we do not have a talent for speaking or teaching, so we cannot teach a lesson or give a Bible Study. We say that there are more qualified persons than us. Well, the Lord can qualify anyone. The LORD is not dependent on any one person. All He needs is a willing heart and mind—one who loves the Lord so much that he is willing to do anything he is asked.
What if you are called into the work of the Lord full-time? Do you count the cost and see that it is too costly a sacrifice? You think that you cannot support your family and live a luxurious lifestyle on a missionary salary. Or, do you simply leave all and follow, trusting the Lord to provide?
One man who Jesus called had a ready excuse, “He said unto another, Follow Me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59–60. This man’s father was probably still alive, and it may have been many years before he would have to bury him. Jesus called him on his excuse. Had the father died, the man would have been busy with funeral preparations and would not have been following Jesus. We do not know if he went after all to follow Jesus, but he did not seem willing to give up all to follow Jesus quite yet.
And, we cannot forget the rich young ruler. He chose not to follow Jesus. “He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19:22. There is no biblical record of anything that he would have said or thought other than leaving sorrowful. He likely had many excuses in his mind as to why he could not follow Jesus and sell all. He had eagerly run up to Jesus asking what he should do to gain eternal life. When he was told to sell all, he completely changed. His joy turned to gloom and he left sorrowing. The price was too high. His riches were his excuse for not following Jesus.
There are many who have means but are using them more for themselves. If every member was faithfully giving, there would not need to be so many calls to give. There would be plenty of money in the treasury.
Yet the LORD blesses people with means in order for them to donate to His work and the work can go forward. There are other rich men who left all—Levi Matthew for one. He was busily at work when the Lord came by and said, “Follow me. . . . he arose, and followed Him.” Mathew 9:9. He was a tax collector and likely a wealthy man, but he gave up his employment to follow Jesus.
May God help us not to make any excuses when we sin and it is pointed out to us by a brother or sister, or make any excuses when called to do a duty. Just repent of your sin, if you have sinned, or just obey when called to do a duty, trusting the Lord’s promise that He will be with you, regardless of how challenging the task may be.
I hope we can answer the initial question in the title by telling the Lord, “no, we do not have any excuses.” Just put your heart into the work of character reformation and the Lord will work in and through you and help you to obey His will. He will never leave you, just trust. He said, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20
Amen.
By Wendy Eaton