Excuse or Opportunity
Excuse or Opportunity?
Most of us know how easy it is to make an excuse. We’re tired, busy, or simply not ready to say yes. And sometimes good things in our lives can keep us from noticing an opportunity right in front of us.
In Luke 14:15–24, Jesus tells a story about a man who prepares a great banquet. When everything is ready, he sends his servant to tell the invited guests, “Come, for everything is now ready.”
The servant goes from home to home, expecting to share good news. Instead, he hears one excuse after another.
The first guest has bought a field and says he needs to go and see it. The second has bought five yoke of oxen and wants to try them out. The third has just been married and says he cannot come.
Each reason sounds understandable at first. A field needs attention. New equipment needs testing. A marriage deserves care. But the timing reveals something deeper: the guests have other things they would rather do. The banquet is ready, yet they choose to stay away.
That’s what makes the story feel close to home. We rarely set out to reject God. More often, we tell ourselves we’ll make room for him later. We’ll pray when life slows down, serve when the calendar clears, or take a step of faith when we feel more ready.
There’s nothing wrong with work, family, or the responsibilities of everyday life. Jesus isn’t asking us to neglect them. He is inviting us to notice when even good things begin to crowd out the life he offers.
The banquet points to the welcome of God’s kingdom: life with Jesus, shaped by grace, purpose, and belonging. The host has prepared the meal. The invitation is simply to come.
When the first guests refuse, the host sends his servant out again—to the streets and lanes, then to the roads and country paths. The table remains ready, and there is still room. God’s invitation is generous, and it keeps going out.
Each day, Jesus invites us to be with him, become more like him, and join in what he is doing. When you sense that invitation—to pray, forgive, serve, give, listen, or take a step of faith—pause before the familiar reasons rush in. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You can simply make room and come.
When Jesus invites you, don’t let an excuse keep you from the opportunity.
Most of us know how easy it is to make an excuse. We’re tired, busy, or simply not ready to say yes. And sometimes good things in our lives can keep us from noticing an opportunity right in front of us.
In Luke 14:15–24, Jesus tells a story about a man who prepares a great banquet. When everything is ready, he sends his servant to tell the invited guests, “Come, for everything is now ready.”
The servant goes from home to home, expecting to share good news. Instead, he hears one excuse after another.
The first guest has bought a field and says he needs to go and see it. The second has bought five yoke of oxen and wants to try them out. The third has just been married and says he cannot come.
Each reason sounds understandable at first. A field needs attention. New equipment needs testing. A marriage deserves care. But the timing reveals something deeper: the guests have other things they would rather do. The banquet is ready, yet they choose to stay away.
That’s what makes the story feel close to home. We rarely set out to reject God. More often, we tell ourselves we’ll make room for him later. We’ll pray when life slows down, serve when the calendar clears, or take a step of faith when we feel more ready.
There’s nothing wrong with work, family, or the responsibilities of everyday life. Jesus isn’t asking us to neglect them. He is inviting us to notice when even good things begin to crowd out the life he offers.
The banquet points to the welcome of God’s kingdom: life with Jesus, shaped by grace, purpose, and belonging. The host has prepared the meal. The invitation is simply to come.
When the first guests refuse, the host sends his servant out again—to the streets and lanes, then to the roads and country paths. The table remains ready, and there is still room. God’s invitation is generous, and it keeps going out.
Each day, Jesus invites us to be with him, become more like him, and join in what he is doing. When you sense that invitation—to pray, forgive, serve, give, listen, or take a step of faith—pause before the familiar reasons rush in. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You can simply make room and come.
When Jesus invites you, don’t let an excuse keep you from the opportunity.
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