Have you made excuses for your own behavior lately? We need to take responsibility for our own behavior, but in a world of relativism where the norm or bar is set so low, how are we to find any kind of standard upon which to base our lives and faith-based beliefs? Do we make time to be with God and do those things we should for God?

Jesus gave an example of three people who made up excuses at Luke 14:16. It is called the Parable of the Dinner, where the master sends out an invitation and the slave returns telling the master everyone gave an excuse for not showing up. One person just bought land that needed to be looked at, another man bought five oxen which he had not tried out, another just got married. The slave is then instructed to go find the "poor and crippled and blind and lame." He directs the slave to go out into the highways and "compel" them to come in, that the house might be filled. Those who were previously invited, but made up excuses were not going to taste the dinner. It appears those men who decided not to join in, lost out on God's blessing by their own decisions.

Here is my top 10 list of excuses for not taking responsibility for behavior, particular in our due service to God.

1) Nobody cares anyway. God cares (see above).

2) Nobody else is taking responsibility. All the more reason for you to do so.

3) It is too hard. Nothing is impossible with God.

4) It is too frightening. Perfect love casts out fear.

5) I do not have any money. Now is not forever and the best things in life do not cost money.

6) I am not smart enough. There is no shame in being poor and dumb, but in staying poor and dumb - true wisdom comes from God.

7) I have no one to help me. Have you asked for help? Have you asked the right people? Were you open to those God sent your way?

8) I have to do other things for my boss, wife, kids, clients, etc. Lo I am with you always, says God. Do all to the glory of God. Prioritize your time and do not forsake what should be the most important relationship in your life.

9) I am too old/ too young. Since when did time and space become the determiners of agility, ability and desire?

10) I am too sick. Perhaps time spent with God or in the service of others for God are the very cures you need to achieve wellness.

The best way to learn to take responsibility for actions is to suffer the consequences once in awhile and that goes for good behavior as well as bad. Your faith should be working for you, not against the tide or current. God never said it would be easy, but God did say the "burden is light" especially when you get some heavenly help along the way. One of the best ways to start the process of recovery, as anyone in a Ten-Step Program can attest to, is to admit to oneself the problem and then apologize for bad behavior and make amends. This is what true religion is all about - not only confession (which is good for the soul) but restitution and change. Stop making excuses. Like the men in the parable above, the land, the oxen and even the wife are not necessarily good excuses in God's eyes. Remember the land, oxen and wife are not going with the men into the hereafter when they go, but God will be there waiting at the dinner table. If not you at the dinner, the church, or doing God's work, then who?

Learn more about this author, Cinda Smaagaard.
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