WHAT
HELPS AND WHAT DOESN’T HELP IN RISING ABOVE EXCUSES
This is a fairly a
short and mere mop-up installment on rising above excuses. I hope it is
straightforward. It is true that some people are just so “full of excuses” and consequently
they indeed give from what they have. So, whether they will even slightly be
emptied of that toxin through the following prods or not, I don’t know but sorely
trust by God himself they totally could.
Procrastination
Procrastination
is indisputably a major obstacle in any endeavour that hinders meaningful progress. Putting
off to do or not attending to something immediately that’s assigned or planned
speaks neglect, cold-shoulder or contempt of the task/ activity and even the
authority behind that task/activity. Don’t be ensnared by it, do not
procrastinate. I know it’s not easy for most of us but I leave it at that but
squeeze in the fact that this earthly life is time-bound; it expires!
Excellence
Do your very best
in any situation, with all your heart! Aim to do excellently, not simply good
or better. To be honest, often what is average or better does not outstandingly
amaze others or you at all. This goal for excellence should be pursued in spite
of pain, cost or inconvenience if you are to rise above excuses. Some people
see it normal to give lame or frivolous excuses and we humans sometimes want
what is easy, because it appeals to us. It is universally acknowledged that if
a man would prosper in business, he must be diligent. It is the same in
religion as it is in other things.
If you would prosper, in doing anything, let it
be heart-work, and let it be done with ALL your heart! Christian, put as much
force, energy, heartiness, and earnestness into religion as ever you do into
business, for it deserves far more. God does not wink at idleness, simply
receive excuses or just accept luke-warmness. He abhors and tracks it down! Who
are the most useful and successful people around? It is people who do whatever
they undertake with all their hearts; the most ardent and conscientious; people
whose hearts are on fire for the best are the ones who prosper. C H Spurgeon
calls this “the general rule of the moral universe”. Hezekiah is an incredibly good
and challenging example humanly speaking: “he did with all his heart and
prospered.”2Ch_31:20-21.
Personal
Principles and Convictions
These
normally help us to stand, persevere, have stability, and chart our course and
progress in life in general. The world around you has some principles; do you
have and live by any? No need to guess that people without principles are more
bound to give lame excuses and make more mistakes and less progress. It is
apparent and no wonder that what seems to underpin achievement of goals and
realisation of dreams are well adhered to good personal principles and
convictions. What excuse do you have for the kind of life have you been living?
Accountability
Although this may not apply in and for every
situation, one of the robbers of respect and an accomplice of excuses is lack
of accountability. Where someone is struggling with being accountable or
failing to do so, there is most likely an absence of respect for leadership or
authority or any structural arrangement in which accountability should exist.
To whom are you accountable?
As human beings we do not live or exist in a
vacuum! In addition, we did not just evolve from nothingness, out of some ‘big
bang’, so much as to even give some people guts to shamelessly declare, “It is
my life…” Like they can do whatever they want! Thankfully the human society is
organised, with laws and authorities for order and development at various
levels and aspects of life. You might be one of those who has read up to this
point and yet you have no real loving and accountable relationship with the
holy Lord God almighty through Jesus Christ; what is your excuse? Friend, what
excuse do you have for being wasteful, being unkind, abusive or negligent or for
just doing the wicked things you do?
Finally, friends, brethren, let us not be careless
the way we live and do things. How would you attend to issues or tasks in your
last week or day of living, or in the very last moments of your life? Always
think of this and that God is watching, which in case you didn’t know or refuse
to accept, He actually ever does. This is not to scare you but awaken you to
the uncompromising truth! Psalm 139:1-16.
RISE
ABOVE EXCUSES
Excuse the excuser
To grapple or relax seems wiser
Rise out of and above self-pleasing
Even if in the eyes of others decreasing
Ready to give a reason for doing excellently
Humbly knowing good and evil intelligently
A compass in life pointing to eternity
To advance God’s cause for humanity
Attaining happiness without excuse
Rising above I shall muse
Nothing ever to misuse
Shame any accuser
Pity the abuser
Of excuses
!
!
!
