Excuses

Of course there are famous words of excuse. We hear: “I forgot,” “slipped my mind,” “It wasn’t my fault,” and so on. Human nature is very good at placing the blame somewhere else. However, our aim should be to make excuses less often by being more alert to avoid mistakes. And, by quickly taking responsibility for our faults and mishaps, we learn more readily not to repeat them. Today we have ample opportunities to make mistakes because of so much activity in the world. Each moment we narrowly miss tripping over one another’s feet as the masses of humanity dash from place to place, every individual seemingly absorbed in their own private pursuits. Then comes that awful moment when we hear: “Oh-no!” or we see the crash and the flashing red lights—or we read about a disaster in the headlines.

Excuses are often puny and empty in the face of damage claims, especially when lives are harmed or lost. We all make mistakes, but owning up and taking responsibility is more important than people realize. All too often, the universal goal is escaping the consequences. The very first evidence of blaming someone else to avoid personal responsibility is in the book of Genesis. When God confronted Adam for eating the forbidden fruit, he quickly “passed the buck” onto his wife: “Then the man said, ’The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the fruit and I ate’” (Genesis 3:12). Unfortunately, we all have probably used this excuse. Blaming others is very easy, but the consequences can be far reaching (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5:12).

Another very high profile figure did this in 1 Samuel 15. We find a conversation between Samuel and King Saul. God had commanded Saul to destroy the wicked Amalekites, and when Samuel asked him in verse 19 why he had not obeyed, Saul blamed the people under his command! “It’s society,” “it’s my peers,” “someone else made me do it!” In verse 22 Samuel told Saul, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” We must live up to our responsibilities.

Another area of excuse giving is not standing up for what you believe. We are tempted to rationalize, to protect ourselves. This was the famous case of Peter when he denied knowing Christ three times before he finally realized his mistake (Matthew 26:69-75). Life is full of surprises, and sometimes we find ourselves in situations that embarrass or make us feel foolish or afraid. However, if we are not honest in our dealings, and are caught doing wrong, we have only ourselves to blame for guilt or embarrassment (not to mention punishment). And, if fear or selfishness causes us to forswear ourselves when we are doing right, as Paul was in following Christ, we are guilty of allowing the “cares of this life” to lead us from our true responsibilities (Matthew 13:22; Luke 21:34).

Avoiding excuses is a social responsibility. Clever or persistent excuse-making might escape us from trouble temporarily (and there are no guarantees!) God teaches that obedience and honesty do more good in the end. The Psalmist states plainly who God respects: “He who swears to his own hurt and does not change” (Psalm 15:4).

God teaches us a way of life that promises blessings for those who behave responsibly, who, when they “slip up” take action to repair damage rather than escape from it. To learn more, order the free booklets The Ten Commandments, and What Is a True Christian? today.