“But they all alike began to make excuses.” (Luke 14:18 NIV)
Jesus was at the Pharisee’s house, apparently invited to a considerable feast. He noticed the guests clamoring for places of honor and gave instruction: take the cheap seats rather then running the risk of being unseated when more honorable guests arrive. Public promotion is entirely less painful than public demotion. Jesu spoke directly to the host, reminding him to invite the less than to his table; the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus’ instructions were counter-cultural and totally uncomfortable.
Then He told a parable of a feast yet to come – presumably the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Many invitations went out, but ALL the original names on the guest-list had excuses. Some were solid, others were weak, but all the excuses stood in the way of relationship with the Host. Excuses, even the very good ones, will always keep us from God’s best.
We make excuses when we lose sight of the fact that this banquet – the one where God celebrates His children’s choice to live with Him for always – is the singular most important event in our entire datebook. What we perceive as pressing appointments: say taking the ACT or showing up at the altar or an audience with the Queen of England: all pale in comparison to the significance of this one supper. No excuse will stand, no matter how strong we think it is.
An excuse is an absence, plain and simple. And Jesus made it clear: another will take our place if we cannot prioritize the eternity He is extending to us. Like the original guests, we still offer a myriad of reasons why we might not make it, but none of them are worth standing up the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
It’s not lost on me that next Jesus spoke about the cost of being a disciple. Dying to self begins at dinner; taking the least honorable seat and opening our home to the least of these. Living as a disciple includes daily discomfort, letting the Lord promote and demote at His good pleasure. As followers, we offer our preference on the altar of God for the sake of being made more like Him. Dying to self means no excuses. God’s priorities have become our priorities, plain and simple.
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples.” (Luke 14:33 NIV)
Lord, please help us become better at self-demotion. We don’t need the seat of honor, we are just glad to be invited to Your table. Let us see others the way You see them: full of hope and love. May our own tables be full of folks who need to know You. Let us live this one short life humbly, generously and fully focused on Your coming Kingdom. May we starve self as we joyously serve You. No excuses. Amen.