How to Deal with People’s Excuses

Luke 14:18

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.

The parable of the great supper should be the challenge for every pastor and church. A certain man made a great supper. This was not just any supper; this was a great supper. You would think everyone would want to come to this supper. This great supper was likely one that nobody had ever tasted. This man who made the supper sent his servants to invite people to come. To this man’s amazement, people all with one consent began to make excuse. Certainly, this frustrated this man because he had put much time and expense into this great supper, and those who should have come had their excuses as to why they could not come. Instead of letting the excuses discourage him, this man’s answer to the excuse was to go and bring in others who would come to this great supper. All this man wanted was people to fill the house.

The amazing thing about the excuses of these people was that it was an orchestrated excuse. Look again at the statement: they all with one consent began to make excuse. The word consent means an orchestrated plan to give an excuse not to come to this supper. In other words, these people who were invited got together and planned their excuses so they would not have to go to the supper.

My friend, the excuses of people not coming to church is not a mistake. Let me assure you, the excuse-makers are often talking with each other. When you look at those who are not faithful to church attendance, you will often see there is a connection between them. It is as if they all with one consent began to make excuse. However, you cannot let the excuses of people keep you from having a great supper. You cannot allow the excuses of people to discourage you.

What is the answer to the excuses? The answer is verse 21: 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. Notice, the master told his servants to go out…and bring in. The best way to overcome people’s excuses for not attending church is to go out and bring in others. In other words, go out and bring in someone. You will notice the master just wanted people to fill the house. Oh, those who filled the house may not be the best looking, but at least they appreciated the great supper that was being put on.

Pastor, are you weary of the excuses from those who know better? Do you often look at your auditorium and see people who should be there, but are not? Does it frustrate you to the point to where you are almost angered that people who know better don't come? You are not the first one to experience this; even Jesus talked about being angered with these excuses. However, the answer to the excuses is to go out and bring in.

Ministry worker, are you weary with the excuses? Are you a Sunday school teacher or bus worker who week after week hears the excuses of people? Are these excuses wearying you and even angering you? Well, you are not alone! However, the answer to excuses is to go out and bring in others who will come. The next time you have to deal with an excuse, let that excuse become the challenge to go out and bring in another person who wants to have your great supper that you have prepared.