The name of the message today is “Excuses.” This word is defined as an attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.

We all have used excuses, and some are legitimate, but many are laughable. One fellow said, “An excuse is actually the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”

In our passage taken from Luke 14, Jesus speaks of three laughable excuses, about men who first said that they would attend a banquet, yet when it came down to time for them to attend, they made lame excuses for not attending. The essence of the three excuses that they used are as follows:

1. "I'm too busy with my possessions."

2. "My work demands all my time."

3. "My family commitments prevent me from coming."

In our culture these three excuses seem to be quite legitimate, we need to be good stewards of our possessions, we certainly need to regularly show up for work, and most definitely need to spend quantity and quality time with our families.

So, what are the reasons that these excuses are not plausible? While each of these things are very important, they should not be allowed to keep us from an invitation which can make us not only more effective at being good stewards of our resources, being a better employee, and spending more time with our families.

The issue is that many are often willing to allow these things to cause them to miss the most important invitation of their lives, that of following Christ. They get caught up in the gifts instead of in “the giver of the gifts.” And miss their opportunity to experience a free invitation not only to eternal life, but also to an abundant life. A life that is built on the foundation of God’s Word and His promises. I encourage you to make Jesus Christ your priority in life.