Luke Chapter 14 verses 15-24 gives us the parable of the Great Banquet wherein we find the host inviting many people to a banquet in his home. An open door for all to come with no strings attached and yet we find some of those described as having excuses for not attending.

I think we often time find excuses to avoid something we don’t want to do.

In verses 18-20 we find three excuses for some of the people invited. Each one had a prior commitment.

¹⁸ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.”

¹⁹ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out.’ Please excuse me.”

²⁰ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’”

It’s amazing that I have used, and I have known many a person to use, any one of these reasons (in some form) for not doing more, for not serving, for not accepting Christ’s invitation.

I have work to do. I’m on my way out of town or out the door right now and won’t be around. I have a new priority or something else taking priority over this invitation.

God has invited all of us to meet him at the banquet. He has invited all of us to join him in and eternal heavenly kingdom. We already know about it. We know it’s going to take place. Yet when the time comes for us to step up, for us to embrace that invitation and attend, we are quick to excuse ourselves.

No different from the guests invited in this parable. When the time comes for us to serve, the time comes for us to witness, the time comes for us to share the Gospel, the time comes for us to minister to another person, when the Lord says “the time is now” we are quick to say, “I’m not ready. I can’t I’m busy. I’m unavailable.”

The question for me becomes, “What is my excuse?” What reason could I possibly give to God if He were standing in front of me asking me to do something, to be some place, to take on some assignment that would be acceptable?

I can’t lie (He would know it!). I can’t say something is more important then Him (wouldn’t want to do that). Yet I couldn’t just pretend I didn’t hear Him or see Him (try ignoring God … He has a way of coming right back around to you).

With these options outed there only seems to be one option that correctly responds to what God is asking and that is in my best interest as well … “Why thank you for the invitation. I am looking forward to what you have prepared for me.”

Rev. Barry Vassar can be reached at fitzgeraldmemorial@gmail.com