JUSTIFIED BY A REASON,

BUT NOT BY AN EXCUSE

Victor M. Eskew

 

          When attitudes, words, emotions, and behaviors are justified, they are well-grounded, warranted, and satisfactory.  The individual who engages in these things has a reason, a basis, or a cause for doing them.  When attitudes, words, emotions, and behaviors are not justified, many seek justification by using an excuse.  An excuse is a faulty explanation that attempts to garner pardon for the individual who cannot give a warranted explanation for his actions.  He hopes to hear words like:  “That’s okay,” or, “I understand,” or “No problem.”  His excuse and the person’s generosity enables his conscience to be eased in the matter.

          Jesus set forth a parable about excuses in Luke 14:16-24.  The story begins with THE INVITATION.  “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:  and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:16-17).  Banquets are costly.  They cost time, talents, and treasure.  Those who are invited to “a great supper” are fortunate individuals.  The invitation usually goes out to those who are loved, powerful, influential, or all three.  The host eagerly anticipates seeing his guests.  He longs to bless them with his generous hospitality.

          The man who prepared this great supper did not get a reception to his invitation.  Instead, we read about ‘THE REJECTION” (Luke 14:18-20).  “And they all with one consent began to make excuse.  The first said unto him, I have brought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it:  I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them:  I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”

          Remember, an excuse is a “faulty explanation that seeks some form of pardon.”  In Jesus’ parable, the fault within each excuse is easily detected.  One man said that he had bought a piece of land and needed to go see it.  Everyone knows that no one buys land unless he has seen it first.  Another said, he had bought five yoke of oxen and needed to go prove them.  Again, before a person makes a purchase of five yoke of oxen, he would first prove them so he does not get swindled in the transaction.  The last man said he had married a wife and could not come.  The reality is that the host would have gladly accepted both at his feast.  Excuses.  Excuses.  Excuses.  All these individuals wanted was a pardon from the host of the feast.

          There are four general areas wherein individuals will give flimsy excuses for their behaviors.  The first involves an unfulfilled obligation.  The individual had a responsibility.  He was supposed to be at his post.  He, however, failed to carry out the task assigned to him.  Instead of admitting that he was not faithful in his duty, the individual presents a faulty explanation as to why he did not do what should have been done.  It is hoped that his excuse will be acceptable, and his dereliction of duty will be overlooked. 

The second excuse area centers around unfulfilled promises.  Promises are made to others, but the promises are not honored.  All kinds of faulty explanations are given as to why the promises were not kept.  The one who was relying on the promise to be kept is supposed to accept the excuse hook, line, and sinker.  He is supposed to respond with the words:  “That’s okay.”  Again, the excuse enables to person to be pardoned.

The third involves the commission of a fault or transgression against another.  In these instances of excuse-making, the transgression may have been intentional until the perpetrator was made known.  Once the transgressor is exposed, the excuses are forthcoming.  The excuses that some people can make for sinning against another individual can be unbelievable at times.  The individual longs for mercy even though he does not really want to confess his sin.  He simply wants the one who has been injured to say:  “No harm really.”

The fourth area of excuse-making comes about when a person stands in need of an indulgence.  Here, a person stands in need of something from another.  Many times he is in need because of his inadequacy, irresponsibility, or inability.  The person has all kinds of excuses as to why he must rely on someone else to assist him.  He hopes one of his excuses resonates with the hearer, and the individual will respond favorably to his need.

When it comes to the Lord, excuses do not please Him.  In the parable we are studying, we read about THE REACTION of host toward the excuses.  “So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things.  Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, yet there is room.  And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that may be filled.  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper” (Luke 14:21-23).  The text reveals three reactions of the master of the house.  First, he was angry.  He was angry because the excuses were just that, excuses.  None of those bidden had genuine reasons why they could not attend.  Second, he invited others to his feast.  Third, he plainly declared that those who were originally invited would never taste of his supper. 

All of us have been excuse-makers from time to time.  Sadly, we deceive ourselves into believing that our excuses are reasons that justify our actions.  They do not.  Excuses are really just lies cloaked in the dress of sincerity.  Dear readers, let’s be extremely careful about the use of excuses.  This is especially true when it comes to the excuses we use not to “justify” our unfaithful service to our Lord Jesus Christ.