Monday, November 14, 2016

Do Not Excuse Your Destiny Away

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

People who give excuses at all times never admit their weaknesses; do not accept responsibility for their misdeeds and failures. Rather than acknowledge their misdeeds, sins and repent, they give excuses; play the blame game, blaming other people for their misdeeds, sins and failures.
Adam disobeyed God, ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and rather than acknowledge and accept his sin against God, he passed the blame to his wife who gave him the fruit to eat. The one billion dollar question is – could he not have said no to Eve because he did not want to disobey God? Eve on the other hand also played the blame game and passed on the blame to the serpent. Unfortunately, God does not condone blame games and refusal to acknowledge sin and acceptance for wrong behavior. He judged all three of them, Adam, Eve and the serpent. Please see Genesis Chapter 3 for details.

King Saul of Israel also attempted to play the blame game. Rather than acknowledge his sin and disobedience, he blamed his actions on pressures from the people. God judged him immediately. Please see 1st Samuel Chapter 15 verses 1 to 30, 13 verses 1 to 14. Compared to David, Saul never acknowledged his sin and even when he did, he preferred the honor of his people to publicly repenting before God (1st Samuel Chapter 15 verse 30). David on the other hand acknowledged his sins and asked for mercy and forgiveness from God. When confronted by Nathan, David acknowledged his sin and asked God for mercy. Please see 2nd Samuel Chapter 12 verses 1 to 15. God forgave David when he acknowledged his sin and repented. Also, when David numbered the people of Israel against the will of God, God sent Gad to tell David what he had done and David acknowledged his sin, repented   and even begged God to heap the consequences of the sin on him and not the people (1st Chronicles Chapter 21 verses 1 to 19).
Unfortunately, the servant who received one talent according to his own ability excused his destiny away. How? He refused to trade his talent blaming his wickedness and laziness on his master’s hardness who he accused of reaping where he did not sow and gathering where he did not scatter. The wicked and lazy servant who shirked his responsibility of trading his one talent given according to his own ability played the blame game. His responsibility was to trade his talent irrespective of what the character of his master was but rather than do so, he played the blame game to mask his irresponsibility, laziness and wickedness. Beloved, the lazy servant was judged and sentenced immediately. Please see Matthew Chapter 25 verses 14 to 30.

God has no time and respect for people who play blame games. When the Judeans abandoned the rebuilding of the temple on account of the fierce opposition by the adversaries of  Judah and Benjamin, God did not accept their excuses, Rather, he punished them until they sat up to access resources for the completion of the temple. Please see Haggai Chapters 1 and 2. Thereafter, the people of Judah and Benjamin received the blessings of God.

The Bible also records that a certain man invited some people to a great supper he gave unfortunately, those invited gave excuses in order not to partake of the supper. They had more important activities – land inspection, testing of newly bought oxen, a marriage, etc. though the man was angry, he asked his servant to bring in new people from the streets to take the place of those invited. Significantly, he decreed that all those who gave excuses would not taste his supper. Please see Luke Chapter 14 verses 16 to 24.

Beloved, little excuses here and there can ultimately exclude a person from the promises, and paradise of God. The sick man at the pool of Bethsaida had excused thirty eight years of his life away – he had no one to put him in the pool. This excuse was so ingrained in his consciousness that his first response to Jesus’ question as to whether he would want to be made whole was that he had no one to put him in the pool and before he made it to the pool, someone always got into the pool before him. Apparently, he did not realize that Jesus was asking him if he wanted to be healed and not if he wanted to get into the pool. Jesus knew that the man’s greatest need was a speedy radical mental paradigm shift – from giving excuses as to why he could not be healed to desiring healing – a real thirst and hunger for healing that could only be met by total healing.

That explains why Jesus asked him to rise first – MOVE, do something, act, refuse to be incapacitated, move out of I have no one to help me to I can myself succeed through Christ who strengthens me. The moment he obeyed, gave up excuses, and set in motion the activity for healing, the Bible records that he was immediately made whole. Please see John Chapter 5 verses 1 to 9.

Excuses and refusal to act immobilized him but a radical mental paradigm shift from excuses and inaction to action mobilized and empowered him. He was healed and free of an affliction of thirty eight years. The man void of understanding in Proverbs Chapter 24 allowed the excuses for more sleep and a little extra rest that his body did not need ruin the beautiful vineyard he owned. The lazy man of Proverbs Chapter 20 verse 4 excused his laziness and refusal to work with the false alarm of a fierce lion in the streets.

God has given you great opportunities that you should take advantage of to become successful and great. Do away with excuses and attain a permanent position and space on Success Street. See you there. Shalom.

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