Making excuses can hold us back from growth and obedience to God’s will. The Bible encourages believers to take responsibility for their actions and trust God’s strength rather than offering excuses. Let’s explore what scripture says about overcoming the habit of making excuses and stepping out in faith.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Exposing Evil
What Does The Bible Say About Making Excuses
Exodus 4:10-12
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
This verse reveals Moses’ resistance and reluctance to fulfill God’s call due to his lack of confidence in his speaking abilities. However, God reminds Moses that He is the one who equips and empowers His servants, assuring him that He will provide the necessary help and guidance.
Often, when faced with God’s calling, we may make excuses based on our perceived limitations or inadequacies. However, this verse teaches us that our abilities are not the determining factor, but rather God’s strength working through us.
Matthew 8:21-22
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
In this conversation, a disciple offers an excuse to delay following Jesus in order to attend to family responsibilities. However, Jesus responds by prioritizing the importance of following Him above all else, even familial obligations and cultural norms surrounding burial rituals.
This verse reminds us that excuses can often arise from our attachment to worldly concerns and our reluctance to fully commit to Christ. It challenges us to prioritize our devotion to Jesus, even if it means leaving behind earthly expectations and responsibilities.
Luke 14:16-20
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still, another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’”
This parable illustrates how individuals make excuses to decline an invitation to a great banquet. Each person prioritizes their possessions or personal affairs over the invitation, allowing worldly concerns to hinder their participation.
Similarly, we often make excuses to avoid fully committing to God’s invitation to join Him in fellowship and partake in His blessings. This verse serves as a reminder to examine our priorities and not allow worldly pursuits to hinder our response to God’s call.
1 Kings 19:19-20
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.” “Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
Here, Elisha asks for permission to bid farewell to his family before following Elijah. However, Elijah challenges Elisha’s request, emphasizing that the call of God requires immediate and wholehearted commitment, without allowing personal attachments to become excuses.
This verse highlights the need for us to let go of anything that may hinder our obedience to God’s call. It encourages us to examine our priorities and be willing to forsake personal desires and attachments when they conflict with following God’s plan for our lives.
Proverbs 26:13-16
The sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.
This proverb portrays a sluggard who uses imaginary excuses and exaggerations to justify his laziness and avoid taking action. The imagery of a lion in the road illustrates the foolishness of making baseless excuses to evade responsibility and work.
Similarly, in our lives, we may find ourselves making flimsy excuses to avoid the tasks and responsibilities that God has entrusted to us. This verse reminds us of the importance of honesty and diligence, while cautioning against self-deception and the pitfalls of slothful behavior.
John 5:7
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
This verse depicts a man who has been paralyzed for thirty-eight years, making excuses for his inability to be healed. He attributes his lack of healing to the lack of assistance to enter a pool believed to possess healing powers.
However, Jesus proceeds to miraculously heal him, showing that excuses cannot hinder God’s power. This verse serves as a reminder that, despite our justifications and perceived limitations, God’s grace and healing are available to us if we have faith and trust in Him.
Luke 9:57-62
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
In this passage, Jesus encounters three individuals who express a desire to follow Him but make excuses for their delayed commitment. Jesus emphasizes the importance of wholehearted dedication and willingness to let go of worldly attachments.
These verses illustrate how easily we can be entangled by the demands and responsibilities of our lives, making excuses to delay or delegate our commitment to Christ. It challenges us to prioritize our relationship with God above all else, embracing the call to follow Him unreservedly.
Proverbs 22:13
The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”
This proverb humorously exposes the laziness of a sluggard who exaggerates the presence of danger, using it as an excuse to avoid work and responsibility. The fear of facing challenges becomes a justification for avoiding productivity.
Similarly, in our lives, fear often becomes an excuse that paralyzes us from fulfilling our calling or pursuing God’s will. This verse encourages us to confront our fears and resist the temptation to use them as excuses, trusting that God’s strength and protection are sufficient in overcoming any obstacles.
2 Kings 5:10-12
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot, and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
This passage recounts the story of Naaman, a commander who seeks healing from leprosy but becomes angered by the simple instructions given by the prophet Elisha. Naaman’s pride and expectations hinder him from embracing God’s prescribed method of restoration.
Similarly, our reluctance to accept God’s ways and our desire for instant gratification can lead us to make excuses or question His methods. This verse challenges us to humbly submit to God’s instructions and trust that His ways are far superior to our own.
Matthew 25:24-30
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
This parable tells the story of three servants who were entrusted with different amounts of money by their master. The servant who received the least hid the money instead of investing it. When confronted, he offers excuses rooted in fear and laziness.
This verse emphasizes the importance of stewardship and actively using the gifts and resources God has given us. It warns against making excuses grounded in fear or laziness, highlighting the severe consequences of failing to faithfully utilize and multiply what God has entrusted to us.
Ruth 1:15-16
“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
In this conversation, Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to their families, suggesting that following her will only lead to hardship. While one daughter-in-law leaves, Ruth refuses to make excuses and remains committed to Naomi and Naomi’s God.
This verse portrays Ruth as an example of steadfast loyalty and determination, demonstrating the importance of not allowing external circumstances or the opinions of others to become excuses for abandoning our commitments. It encourages us to persevere faithfully in our relationships and faith, even in challenging times.
Jeremiah 1:6-8
Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah initially offers an excuse based on his age and lack of eloquence when God calls him to be a prophet. However, God reassures Jeremiah, reminding him that age and ability are not hindrances when one is obedient to God’s purposes and presence.
This verse serves as a reminder that making excuses based on our perceived inadequacies diminishes our trust in God’s sovereignty. It challenges us to overcome self-doubt and fear, embracing God’s assurance that He equips and empowers us to fulfill His calling.
Acts 7:30-34
“After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’”
In this passage, God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but Moses initially hesitates, offering excuses rooted in fear and inadequacy. However, God reassures Moses of His presence and promises to be with him throughout the task at hand.
This verse reminds us that when God calls us to a specific purpose or mission, we should not allow fear or feelings of inadequacy to become excuses. Instead, we can trust in God’s provision and guidance, knowing that He is faithful to empower us to carry out His plans.
Jonah 1:1-3
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Here, Jonah receives a clear command from God to go to Nineveh, but he disobeys and instead attempts to escape from God’s presence by heading in the opposite direction.
This verse highlights the danger of making excuses and evading the responsibilities God has given us. It serves as a reminder that disobedience to God’s call not only leads to personal consequences but can also hinder the fulfillment of God’s purposes and the potential for His redemptive work.
Genesis 19:17
When they had brought them outside, one said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away.”
This verse depicts the urgency of God’s command to Lot and his family to flee from Sodom and Gomorrah before their destruction. They are specifically instructed not to look back or linger in the valley, emphasizing the importance of immediate obedience to God’s warning.
Similarly, we are called to respond promptly to God’s instructions and warnings, refraining from making excuses or delaying our obedience. This verse serves as a reminder of the dangers of hesitation and the importance of fully trusting and obeying God’s guidance.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul speaks of a personal struggle and a thorn in his flesh that he pleaded for God to remove. However, God’s response reminds him that His strength is made perfect in weakness. Thus, Paul learns to embrace his weaknesses and find reliance on God’s grace and power.
This verse challenges us not to rely on our own abilities or use our weaknesses as excuses, but rather to trust in God’s strength and allow His grace to work through us. It teaches us that true strength is found in surrendering our inadequacies to God and allowing Him to empower us.
1 Samuel 13:11-12
“What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
This passage recounts Saul’s disobedience to God’s command, as he offers a burnt offering during a time when only priests were designated for such tasks. Saul offers excuses based on fear and impatience, blaming the circumstances and Samuel’s delayed arrival.
This verse reminds us of the danger of using external circumstances as excuses for disobedience or acting outside of God’s plan. It teaches us the importance of waiting on God’s timing and seeking His guidance rather than relying on our own assumptions and justifications.
Joshua 7:20-21
Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Achan confesses his sin of disobedience and theft when the people of Israel faced defeat in battle due to his actions. He admits to being lured by material possessions, leading him to make excuses and act against God’s command.
This verse serves as a cautionary example, warning against the allure of worldly possessions and the potential for making excuses to justify sinful behavior. It reminds us of the importance of honesty, confession, and repentance, acknowledging that excuses will never truly satisfy or excuse our disobedience.
John 9:1-3
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
In this passage, Jesus encounters a man born blind, prompting his disciples to inquire about the cause of his condition, suggesting sin as a possible reason. However, Jesus corrects their assumption, asserting that his blindness served a greater purpose for God’s glory.
This verse challenges the tendency to make excuses or assign blame for life’s challenges and struggles. It teaches us that God can use our limitations or hardships for His redemptive purposes, inviting us to trust in His larger plan rather than seeking excuses or explanations.
Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
David writes this psalm as a reflection on the joy and freedom found in confessing his sins to God and receiving forgiveness. Rather than making excuses or attempting to hide his wrongdoing, David openly acknowledges his transgressions and finds restoration in God’s mercy.
This verse encourages us to humble ourselves before God, admitting our faults and seeking His forgiveness. It teaches us that true freedom and peace can be found when we stop making excuses, take responsibility for our actions, and turn to God for repentance and restoration.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
This verse reminds us that fear is not from God but is rather a spirit that hinders us from fully living out our faith and purpose. It assures us that God’s spirit within us empowers us with courage, love, and wisdom.
This verse challenges us to reject fear-based excuses that hinder us from stepping out in faith and pursuing God’s calling in our lives. It encourages us to lean on the strength and courage given by God, trusting that He will guide us and equip us to overcome any obstacles that stand in our way.