“They Began to Make Excuse.”
By George I. Butler
THESE words occur in one of the parables of our Saviour which evidently has reference to the last days. “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14: 16–24. It will be noticed that the call here extended is to supper, and that it goes forth at “supper time.” This is at the close of the day. There are three distinct calls to this supper. This harmonizes with three distinct messages to be given just previous to the revelation of our Lord in glory at the close of the Christian dispensation. Rev. 14: 6–16. Those who receive a gracious call to the supper begin to excuse themselves. They have what appears to them to be more important business than to heed this call. The terrible consequence is that they are passed by as utterly unworthy, and the solemn declaration goes forth that none of them should taste of the supper. I quote this scripture for the sake of illustrating an important principle. Our Lord, here represented by the “certain man,” in mercy calls certain persons to the marriage supper of the Lamb. This call, if heeded, will take them from certain things which are dear to them. But these things are of small consequence in comparison with the blessings to be derived from heeding the call. Seeing the ground, proving the oxen, and the society of the wife, are of small consequence indeed, compared with the blessings which will accrue to those who partake of the supper. Their begging to be excused under the circumstances is virtually a deliberate insult to the Lord, inasmuch as it shows that they value those things higher than they do the honor of his society, and the blessings he has to give. They show by it that their heart is not really with him. They speak to him very respectfully to be sure. They seem to pay a certain deference to him, and partially, at least, acknowledge the claims of the Lord upon them. They would no doubt like to retain the favor of the Prince and be acknowledged as his friends. But there are other things after all which are more important in their estimation. This fact settles the question. The Lord has freely offered them great privileges, as a matter of his royal bounty. They have chosen something else—their own pleasure and profit. He will not accept them with such feelings. They are rejected. Those who are thus passed by seem to have been eminently respectable. They had property, and doubtless stood well in society. But as the heart was lacking, the Lord rejects them and takes others who are poor, wretched, and despised. He prefers these to the other class with all their respectability, if they give him their hearts and cheerfully accept his offer. All men will be tested upon this principle. The service of the heart is the main thing that is wanted. When the heart is enlisted in the service of God, there will be a ready, willing effort made to accomplish all that can be accomplished. The great question will be, How much can I do in the service of the Master? What can I do to help forward his work in the earth? Where is there an opening that I may enter and accomplish good? The constant bent of the mind will be in that direction. As a man starts out in some business or profession in life, and devotes himself to a thorough understanding of it, and a constant effort to accomplish the greatest results, so the one who enlists in the service of Christ, if his heart is really enlisted, will be on the constant watch for opportunities to be useful in this profession. This will be his one great aim. He will not be hunting up plausible excuses to justify himself in doing little or nothing. The moment he does that, he shows he would be glad to do something else rather than to work for the Lord. Something else has a larger interest to him than his Master’s business.53 I am driven to these reflections by the course of many in the Christian profession, especially of those who might be useful in the special service of the Lord as laborers in his vineyard. The Lord calls for these, and, while it is a truth that the harvest is great and the laborers are few, and the necessity that something should be done is of infinite importance, it is greatly to be deplored that the very ones who might work acceptably should excuse themselves from so doing. The very ones whom the Lord would most gladly accept, persons of cautiousness, refinement, and natural modesty, are those who are most given to “making excuse.” They leave the field to those who are more self-confident and who have less realization of the true nature of the work. There are scores of young or middle-aged men who should be engaging in the work of the Lord in a special manner, or preparing themselves to do so, who cling to their farms or other business till it seems almost impossible to wrench them away. Their own hearts are troubled. They see enough to do. They admit that something must be done; that our faith requires it. They have a high appreciation of the holy work of saving souls. They are conscious that they are not living up to their duty. Some of them think that they will try at some more convenient season, when they can get certain worldly projects worked out to their own satisfaction. Those things, of course, must be attended to first. They have been reflecting over these things, and are troubled about them. But let any person approach them in regard to their duty, and some of them will become almost eloquent in “making excuse.” Their abilities are sadly deficient, their educational advantages have been so poor that the thought of their doing anything as laborers is out of the question. Their views of the elevated calling of the ministry are such that it would be wholly out of place for them to undertake to do anything in that direction. They would be sure to disgrace the profession and wound the cause. They would be very glad to have other properly qualified laborers take the field. They earnestly desire the good of the cause. They only understand farming, or some other branch of business, or perhaps have never succeeded very well anywhere. They do not know but possibly they may make a little trial of the matter by-and-by, when they have got everything fixed up to their mind, but not yet. These, and such as these, are the excuses made. In many of these cases, if any other person but the one excusing himself should state these things of the person in question, I fear he would have a very serious trial over it and think himself ill-treated. This would show plainly that it was not all sincere conviction which prompted these excuses. Some may possibly desire to draw out praise from the other party by thus lowering their own ability. With many, these excuses spring from a dread of meeting the difficulties of the position, and the fear of having to make sacrifices they will not be willing to make. Possibly, they may not succeed as brilliantly as they would desire. Many would go if they could be sure of making a Whitefield, or some other wonderful pulpit orator. But there is a great lack of earnest souls who are willing to labor in any manner and in any place, if they can only win souls to Christ. All these excuses and reasons spring from some other motive than the pure love which the Saviour of sinners possessed. They are not the product of a full consecration. Faith and love are lacking. The soul which is fully consecrated to God will earnestly long to labor in some sphere of usefulness. Instead of looking around for good excuses with which to ease conscience, such will be hunting up openings for labor where they may work in bringing souls to the joy and rejoicing of true Christian experience. And what an immense difference it will make in the conduct and emotions of a person whether he is seeking with all his heart to do something for the cause of Christ, or whether he is looking up plausible excuses with which to ease conscience for doing nothing. Can intelligent Christians be satisfied to continue in this latter condition and think themselves justified before God? Impossible. Our young men must not deceive themselves here. They must scan closely their motives, and see what is the real reason of their not working more ardently in the Master’s cause. When the leading brethren in our Conferences feel anxious that certain persons should improve their gift, there is not much danger of failure, if intelligent effort is put forth in faith. The very experience which most young men fear to meet is just that which they really need. If every person could feel strong in himself, and sure to succeed in his own strength and wisdom, there would be a plenty to go forth. But it is this fear of failure that binds poor souls. How should I feel when brought into certain straits when my own strength would not support me? Probably you would feel the need of a higher strength, a more reliable support. Perhaps you would fly to the mighty One of Jacob. Peradventure you would learn to lean upon God and draw strength from him. Ah! there is where our young men lack. There is the lesson God would teach them. But oh! how the poor heart fears this experience. And yet it is the most precious men can have. Look at the eaglets upon the crag. Though all feathered and winged, how terrible to look down into the deep beneath them! We may well suppose the prospect terrifies. The old eagle pushes them off in spite of their screams. But now they discover a hidden power, new and wonderful. This experience is worth more than it costs. My young friends, God wants you to wade out from the shore into the deep waters of his love. Go to work. Resolve in the strength of the mighty One that you will succeed. When the providence of God opens the way, determine not only to try, but to succeed. Be as constant as you would in any other business or profession. Make intelligent efforts to qualify yourselves, and commence with no thought of failure. If people should talk about going to work in their common business as they do in laboring for God, they would all starve to death. Oh! but I know I could succeed there, says one. How do you know it? Because you are conscious you possess certain powers which if well employed will accomplish the desired result. But those powers are merely human; therefore, weak and unreliable; while he who goes forth believing God’s promises and determined to labor for him in spite of shame, or persecution, or neglect, can lean on an Arm which holds up the universe. What we want is, to learn how to do that. We can only learn it by going out beyond our poor human strength. Those who are strong laborers in the cause to-day are such simply because they have been practicing upon this lesson, and have learned how to avail themselves of this strength. Go and do likewise. Oh! how my heart yearns for men here and there who I know might do good, if they would only sink into God, and go to work for him. Various influences are holding them. The cause of God suffers for their help. “Not doing one-twentieth of what we might” and should; and yet souls who could work acceptably excuse themselves! The burning day before us, the world to warn, and our little worldly business standing in the way, or we hunting up plausible excuses for doing little or nothing! Dear friends, this will hardly answer at the bar of God. “Go labor in my vineyard,” says the Master. You may talk of your “lands,” your “oxen,” or “your wife,” but remember that He who calls says that such as will not accept the call shall not taste of the supper. Every talent must be called into exercise. We may think the Lord a hard master, if we desire to bury our talent in the earth. But he only calls for his own. Ye are bought with a price, even the precious blood of Christ. He left the glory of Heaven to labor for you and me. “Without the Spirit of Christ, ye are none of his.” “The willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land.” There is a high premium for faith and courage in every cause; and fear, irresolution, and love of ease, are always at a discount. The heroes of the world were men of faith; not of a little temporary, spasmodic feeling, but a settled, stern resolution to do something in the cause of their choice. The earnest workers are ready to embrace you. The columns are never full. There is room for more. The crown of glory will be given to those who have done well—those who have worked steadily for a true object. Perishing souls are crying, Come over and help us. The workers are few, and their burdens great. It is blessed to labor for Christ. There is a sweetness and joy in it which cannot be described, even amid toil, weariness, and affliction. Come, my friends, leave off your “making excuse.” “Watch, pray, and work,” are our watchwords. We have a great work to accomplish, and no time to lose. Can you not see that steps are being taken looking to immense results? The world is to be warned. Nelson’s watchword at the battle of Trafalgar was, “England expects every man to do his duty.” A mightier One expects us to do ours. No amount of plausible excuses ever did a single duty. Earnest action is called for from every one who loves the cause of God. The fields are white all around us. Let us labor in the harvest of souls.