One insurance company says it hears some amazing excuses for accidents. Here’s one: “A pedestrian hit me and went under my car.” Another: “As I came up to the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared where no stop sign had ever been before.” Another: “An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished.” And another: “The telephone pole was coming so fast, I was trying to swerve out of hits path when it struck the front of my car.” Yet the excuses Jesus described had far greater consequences. Luke 14 recounts the excuses those invited to the dinner a man gave—a feast symbolizing God’s Kingdom banquet. One invitee declined the invitation claiming he had to inspect a field he just bought; another claimed he had to try out a yoke of oxen; a third said he was couldn’t come because he just got married. The host would not be outdone but sent his servants to extend his invitation to others. He said those originally invited would never taste his food. Their frivolous excuses resulted in missing the banquet of a lifetime. Jesus related this parable to urge us not to ignore His invitation to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
