Too many so-called “Christians” have excuses when it comes to their failures in doing what God expects of them.  When it comes to doing the commanded work of teaching others (Matthew 28:19), we hear that they are afraid to speak to people, too afraid to offend someone, etc.  When it comes to giving the most we can on the first day of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-2 and II Corinthians 9:6-9), we hear how the car broke down or the family needed a trip to help calm their nerves.  When it comes to those who FORSAKE the ASSEMBLING of the saints (Hebrews 10:25), we hear about them being too tired, too hot, too cold, too old, too young, etc.

     Those folks that think they have excuses need to do some more studying.  Could you just imagine yourself serving the Lord when all Christians were being persecuted (Acts 8:1-4)?  How about if you had to travel by camel, donkey, or foot through extreme heat or cold?  Remember, the saints of old had no heated or air conditioned cars in which to travel.  Oh, we complain of driving at night or God forbid (sarcasm), having to ask for a ride from one of our brethren.  What about those who would travel dangerous roads, rough seas, or deep forests just to be beaten before arriving to worship with the saints?  Some complain in our day that four services a week are too many.  What about those who met daily in the first century (Acts 2:46; 5:32)?  Don’t you think they had work to do, were tired, had bad days, etc.?  Oh how faithless many of our day are when compared to those we read of throughout the word of God!

     Paul faced much more than you or I will face in this life.  For example, Paul had been stoned to the point that the Jews who stoned him thought he was dead (Acts 14:19).  The record then says: “Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:20-22).  Can you imagine what we would hear from Christians today if they had been stoned to point of near death?  Sunday morning would come and they would be too sore to worship the Lord.  Wednesday evening would be too insignificant.  Paul on the other hand rose up and went back to doing the Lord’s work.

     Paul’s sufferings were more than just this one case.  In fact, he wrote to the Corinthian brethren establishing his sufferings so that their carnal minds would see his work.  In that text, Paul told of many things he suffered saying: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands” (II Corinthians 11:24-33).  The next time you have a headache, backache, sore toe, or any other minor physical condition that you think keeps you from serving the Lord, compare your sufferings to Paul’s!  Your excuses will seem rather insignificant.  In fact, what are your excuses when compared to what price has been paid for you to have the privilege to serve the Lord?

     Most of those who use excuses to get out of doing what they ought to do, not consider what the word of God says.  It seems to me that they don’t realize what privileges they abuse when they do excuse themselves.  If one excuses themselves from obeying the Gospel they are in essence sending back the Lord’s invitation to come (Matthew 11:28-30).  When someone rejects the privilege to worship they are telling God that He is certainly not first in their lives (Matthew 22:37).  When someone says they are not going to assemble with their brethren they are saying that they do not appreciate the privilege of edification (Ephesians 4:16).  Excuses are just a dishonest way of saying “NO”.  Jesus is the author [source] of our salvation (Hebrews 5:8).  Consider who you are excusing yourself from when you choose to be lacking in service.  If that does not prick your heart, maybe there is no hope.

     There certainly is a point wherein the heart of an individual becomes hardened against the Gospel.  For example, Jesus came and did many wonderful works.  Yet, because of hardened hearts, many did not believe.  In fact, John writes of this saying: “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.  While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him” (John 12:35-41).

     Those who continually make excuses are no different than the many who saw, and yet denied the works of Christ.  Their hearts become hardened.  People who make excuses get more and more comfortable with not doing what they should.  If they are not attending faithfully because of one reason or another, this becomes their thinking process.  Instead of trying to make Sunday evening or mid-week assemblies, they have already concluded that they cannot, thus they will not.  God did not accept the excuses of Eve (Genesis 3:13ff.), Moses (Exodus 2-3), Saul (I Samuel 15), or the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:21-23).  He will not accept your excuses either (Matthew 7:21).

    Some would say, but I can’t ____________.  Let’s test that theory.  Some say they cannot get out of the house to assemble with the brethren for worship to the Lord.  How is it then that they can get out to the hairdresser, grocery store, doctor, and so on?  They will say, “I have to eat.”  Exactly!  You have to!  That is the difference.  Many prioritize the Lord somewhere down under the local grocery market as though bread is more needful than the word of God (Matthew 4:4).  They do so, because they do not feel as though they have to come to services.  This of course is the wrong idea (Hebrews 10:25).  What excuse will you make when you stand before Christ (II Corinthians 5:10)?

     Notice how our Lord answered the excuse mentality: “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.  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought 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, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.  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, and 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 my house may be filled.  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper” (Luke 14:16-24).