“LIVING AN EX-EXCUSABLE LIFE”

MARK 12:38-44

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,

40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.

42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.

43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Excuses.  We live in an age of excuses. You can see that in a survey that was conducted a number of years ago.  The survey was conducted by the CareerBuilders website.  It looked at the excuses that people gave for missing work.   Some of the excuses were, to say the least, pretty creative.  For example one employee who didn’t show up for work said that it was because he tripped over his dog and was knocked unconscious.  Here are some more.

I was arrested as a result of mistaken identity.

I couldn't find my shoes.

I was spit on by a venomous snake.

I hurt myself bowling.

I forgot what day of the week it was.

I forgot to come back to work after lunch.

I totaled my wife's jeep in a collision with a cow.

My curlers burned my hair and I had to go to the hairdresser.

My brain went to sleep and I couldn't wake it up.

I had to ship my grandmother's bones to India

My cat unplugged my alarm clock.  And here’s my personal favorite.

My monkey died.

Yes, we live in an age of excuses.  Now there are basically two kinds of excuses.  First of all there’s the “Don’t blame me. It’s not my fault” excuse.   “Don’t blame me.  The dog ate my homework.”  “Don’t blame me. It’s the Democrats or  the Republicans who got us into this mess.”  “Don’t blame me.  The other guy is the one who caused the accident.”

Some excuses are all about shifting the blame for a mistake or problem on to someone else.  Other excuses are all about making life easier for you.  That’s when someone says, “I’m sorry but I’m so busy I couldn’t possibly serve on the PTA board.”  Here’s another one for you.  I actually saw this several years ago.  I was standing in line behind two elderly women in the old Ryer’s store.  One of them asked the woman behind the counter if she’d gone to the polls to vote.  When the woman behind the counter said she was planning to go later that afternoon the two elderly women proudly announced that they’d already done their civic duty.

“Yes,” the first woman said. “We voted against that new school. “That’s right,” the second woman added.  “It’s way too expensive and we’re on a fixed income.”  The two elderly women then proceeded to shell out $40 and $50 for lottery tickets.

Now compare that with what happened when that poor widow who went to the Temple.  If anyone was entitled to make a few excuses and take the easy way out it was that widow. After all it wasn’t easy being a widow back then.  It wasn’t like it is today where women have careers that make it possible for them to be financially successful and secure.  Back then a widow had very few options.  You either begged on the street, worked as a prostitute or did menial chores that paid you next to nothing.

So the widow had a good excuse for keeping those two copper coins in her pocket. Instead of doing that though she went to the Temple and put them in the offering box. That’s why Jesus praises her.  Jesus says to the disciples, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Jesus wanted everyone to know that they were looking at a really remarkable woman.  They were looking at a woman who did something really amazing. That’s what happens when you don’t make excuses.   It makes it possible for you to things that are really good.   It makes it possible for you to great things.  It makes it possible for you to really succeed in life.

When you look at what happened that day in the Temple you realize that Jesus isn’t interested in excuses.  Jesus isn’t interested in what you can’t do.  He’s only interested in what you can do.  He’s only interested in helping you to move beyond the excuses so you can discover the faith and courage, the love, determination and goodness that you have in your heart.

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and doing something really remarkable is an excuse.   The widow in the Temple could have used an excuse and taken the easy way out but she didn’t.  David could have made all kinds of excuses.  He could have said, “I can’t fight Goliath.  I’m too young.  I’m too small.   I don’t know how to fight.”   He could have done that but he didn’t. Noah also could have made all kinds of excuses when God told him to build that ark but he didn’t.

There’s a story about Noah that shows you can happen when you live a life that is driven by excuses.  It’s also a story that might help you decompress after all the politics of the last year.   In the story God goes to see how the ark is coming along and discovers that things aren’t going very well at all.   “Noah,” the LORD  thunders, “Where’s my ark?”  A lightning bolt then crashes into the ground next to Noah. Noah stands there trembling and says,  “LORD, please forgive me. I did my best but there were problems, big problems.  First of all I had to get a building permit for the ark and Your plans didn’t meet the codes.  So I had to hire an engineering plan to redraw the plans.  Then I got into a big fight with OSHA over whether the ark needed to have a sprinkler system and flotation devices.  I also got complaints from the neighbors and had to get a variance from the planning commission.  Wood for the ark was also in short supply after the EPA put a ban on cutting down trees.  They did that so they could save the spotted owl.   Once I finally got the wood the carpenters went out on strike and I had to negotiate a settlement with the Labor Relations Board.  So now we’ve got 16 carpenters on the ark and no spotted owls.   After that things went from bad to worse.  As soon as I started collecting the animals I got sued by animal rights group.   Then the EPA came back and said I couldn’t use the ark until I filed an environmental impact statement on Your proposed flood.   They didn’t take too kindly to the idea that they didn’t have jurisdiction over the conduct of a Supreme Being. The Army Corps of Engineers also demanded a map of the new proposed flood zone. So I sent them a globe.  They didn’t think that was very funny.   Then to top everything off I’m also being sued by the ACLU.  They’re accusing me of discrimination because I’m not letting any godless unbelieving people on the ark. So, I’m sorry,” Noah wailed, “but it looks like I won’t be able to finish Your ark for at least another five years!”  As soon as Noah finished his tale of woe the clouds began to clear.  The sun came out and a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky. Noah looked up and asked, “Does this mean you’re not going to destroy the earth with a flood?”  “No,” the LORD thundered.  “You have government now and that punishment is worse than anything I could ever do to you..”

A life full of excuses gets you nowhere.  All it does is lead to a life of meaningless mediocrity.  In the Biblical story Noah didn’t make excuses when God told him to build the ark. Jesus could have done the same thing in the days leading up to the crucifixion. He could have said, “Why should I sacrifice my life? Two thousand years from now people aren’t going to really appreciate what I did for them.  They’re going to be too busy watching their football games and climbing the ladder of success.”   Jesus didn’t do that and because he didn’t do that those who believe now have “forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace.  Courage in the struggle for justice and peace and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end.”

The story of the widow in the Temple makes you realize that Jesus isn’t interested in excuses. He isn’t interested in what you can’t do.  He’s only interested in what you discover what you can do. 

Pastor Eric Hulstrand of Binford, North Dakota tells a story about an elderly woman who unfortunately fainted in the middle of his sermon.   When the EMT’s got there they put her on a stretcher and began to wheel her out of the sanctuary.  When they got to the sanctuary door the elderly woman motioned for her daughter to come closer.  So what did she say to her daughter? Did she whisper a final goodbye?  No.  Did she tell her daughter that she loved her?  No.  All she said was, “My offering is in my purse.”

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and something really remarkable is an excuse.  Now if you will excuse me, it’s time to say “Amen.”

Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes

November 11, 2012