“TOO MANY EXCUSES”
By Pastor Mark Taylor
There are at least five areas the church needs to focus on as we carry out His commission: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel”. If we are focusing on these five ministry areas and if we are following the will of God, and if our eyes are on Him, we can be excited about what God is doing and what He is going to do.
We need to focus on investing and inviting.
We need to focus on the Word of God and prayer.
We need to focus on meaningful relationships.
We need to focus on serving others.
We need to focus on praise and worship.
There is one thing stopping us from accomplishing these areas of ministry and that is “Too Many Excuses”. Because it is going to take commitment, dedication, sacrifice, and tenacity to get it done. It means that we are going to have to stop making excuses. It seems all of us have all kinds of strong excuses not to do the things we ought to be doing. We need to be saying: “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
If there was any one person in the Bible who came up with excuses not to do what God had called them to do, it would have to be Moses. As many of us do, Moses had many excuses that he gave to God as to why he could not fulfill his calling to rescue the Israelites from slavery.
Moses said, “But I am not qualified.” Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).
All Moses could see was his own unworthiness. God is calling us to make an impact and God is going to provide the means to fulfill that calling. We are His, we are His sons and daughters and He has qualified us to make an impact.
Moses said, “But I don’t have the knowledge to do what you are asking me to do.” “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). God always gives us the knowledge and the power to do what He asks us to do. Therefore by faith we do it.
Moses said, “But I do not believe I can do it.” Moses, once again doubts himself and his ability to fulfill his mission. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1). We should not worry about what others think of us in relationship to our mission and calling from the Lord. Basically Moses is saying they are not going to believe me so I don’t believe in me. The fear of failure often keeps people from trying to follow the Lord. God gave Moses convincing proofs and He gives us the Word of God to produce faith in us. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
Moses said, “But I don’t have the right gifts for this mission.” If God calls you to do something, He will give you the ability to get it done. “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10). God answered Moses and said: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12). God already knows the inability and shortcomings of those He calls. But our God is a God of miracles and He can give you what you need to get His job done. “But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27).
Moses said, “But I don’t want to!” But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13). Moses was done with excuses and showed the real state of his heart. He would rather have God send someone else. His problem wasn’t really a lack of ability; it was a lack of willingness. He simply did not want to go. It may be true with us that we would really rather that God would use someone else. Send someone else to visit the sick. Send someone else to invite people to church. Someone else can pray. Someone else can give their money and time. In that case someone else will receive God’s blessings and some other church will grow and take the message throughout the world for the Lord. God has given us everything we need to do everything He has called us to do. “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). We need to be more confident in the fact that God is always going to give us what we need to get the job done. All we have to do is step out in faith and do it.
With Moses we know that He did answer the call and was successful in delivering the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. What about us? Will we heed the call to use our gifts and abilities for the service of the Lord? Moses is with the Lord right now enjoying his salvation and rewards for making the right decision. It is an honor to be called by God and to serve Him. If you put aside your excuses you will hear Him say to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21).
What is God calling you to do this year? I am sure He is speaking to each of us about something. He has told us we are “the light of the world” and that we are “the salt of the earth”. This means we are called to do something to make our world better, our church better, and our make our friends and families better. Why don’t we all quit making excuses and start doing what God is asking us to do?
