VOT: May 11, 2023 Avoid excuses “Availability precedes Ability

VOT: May 11, 2023 Avoid excuses “Availability precedes Ability” Excuses short circuit blessings and makes you lose your ultimate reward. An “Excuse” in simple terms is giving a reason for not doing something or giving a helping hand in some cases. The act of giving excuse may be a genuine or truthful reason for refusal to do a thing or declining to offer help when requested for. At the instant an excuse is given it might seem acceptable, but on the long run it may negatively impact the person who constantly gives it. Therefore we must take heed and refrain from making it a habit of always giving excuses. One very clear case in the bible was the parable of the “Wedding Banquet” Initially, Jesus opened the invitation to all, but when they all started giving excuses, He decided to reach out to people who even seemed unqualified to be invited. He went to the streets or by-ways to invite people who probably didn’t know him or He didn’t know. To His amazement those that were given a short notice with very unfavourable conditions happened to be those who honoured the invitation and did not give any excuses but even came early to the banquet. In order words, the blessing was given to those that may have been unqualified in the sight of men. God qualifies the unqualified and multiplies grace upon the willing and obedient. Nuggets While men look for the able and qualified, God looks for the available though they may be unqualified. It is God that gives the ability once there is availability. Excuse could be as a result of laziness, slackness or slothfulness Excuses could also be given due to fear or lack of faith and trust in God or anxiety and uncertainty of the situation. Excuses could open the door for our adversaries to accuse us. Adam and Eve gave excuses for their disobedience at the garden of Eden. Many people still fall short in this area. Excuse will make you lose your chances or opportunities to those who are ready to go the extra mile or sacrificially give of themselves to do that which was ordained for the