If you boiled every excuse down to its very basic component, what would you find? It should not be surprising that Jesus answered this question for us. In Luke 14, our Lord told the Parable of the Great Supper. See if you can identify the common element found in every excuse.
“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, …‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come’” (Luke 14:16-20).
Did you see the common ingredient in every excuse? The Master instructed, “Come.” Each began to make excuses by saying, “I…I…I…I…I…I…I…I…” An excuse is whenever “I” get in the way of doing or take priority over what my Master has instructed!