Distractions, Excuses, and Substitutions 11/17/2019

Distractions kill. Distracted driving accounted for over 3400 deaths in 2016 according to the CDC. 391,000 people were injured in distracted related injuries.

Social media has become a distraction at workplaces. A study titled “social media at workplace” said employees spend 32 percent of their time on social media. I read stories about people who have died because they were distracted by their smart phone.

I read of a man who fell from a cliff attempting to get the perfect selfie.

I am concerned sometimes about the distractions that people allow to come between themselves and doing what God is calling for us to do.

Too easy to allow life to get in the way.

Too many distractions in this world...

The things that will cause us to miss out on the master’s table.

Luke 14:16–24 NKJV

16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Excuses:

“I have bought a piece of land” I have something to see.

A person of means, could afford to buy land. The ability to purchase kept them from the master’s table.

“I have bought five oxen, going to test them.” I have something to do.

Work to be done. The ability to work kept them from the master’s table.

“I married a wife.” I have something else to enjoy.

Pleasure to be enjoyed. The desire of the moment kept them from the master’s table.

Each excuse was one that can always come between the called and the master’s table.

What excuse do you have that is allowed to come between you and the master?

Substitutes:

The poor - cannot afford to buy land.

maimed and lame - cannot work.

blind - cannot enjoy the beauty of a spouse.

Don’t be substituted, be the substitute.