What’s Your Excuse? **Conclusion**

Friends, greetings in Jesus Name. Today, we shall be looking at the concluding part of the series we began last week titled, “What’s Your Excuse?” Let me begin by re-iterating that, the world owes you nothing, and no human being owes you a dime. Rather, you owe the world your contribution to make it a better place; and you owe humanity your gifts and talents to put smiles on their faces. If you die complaining without touching lives with your God-given talents and gifts, you have died a useless death. One of the deadliest limitations of life is to be begging or asking for what you already have. You have all that it takes to become great, it’s just that many of us do not know. Remember, a beggar will always remain a servant to the giver. Very importantly, any limitation you do not deal with in your life will continue to perpetuate. You see, the world does not give you what you wish for; it only gives you what you make demand for. Therefore, you must become violent in dealing with any ugly limitations in your life. You don’t negotiate with Satan stealing from you. No! You kick him out. “For the kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent takes it by force” (Matt. 11:12).

There’s nothing wrong in asking or being helped at some point in life. We all have our low moments but with determination to succeed. But when you become a perpetual beggar and burden to others, that God does not approve (2 Thes.3:10). The problem with lots of people is that they want the easy way out. They like to be spoon-fed without any effort or desire to rise and shine. Martin Luther said, “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” Life is a forward movement, not backward or static. Unfortunately, many people are at a stop in their life. They have 1001 excuses why things can’t work or move forward. Jesus said, “For you have the poor always with you” (Matt. 26:11). Yes, the poor are everywhere, and in large numbers. But it’s a choice to be in that group. God didn’t create some rich and others poor. No! He created us equally with dominion, power, and glory (Gen.1:28). Whatever you become in life – rich or poor, a beggar or giver – is a by-product of the consequences of your choices in life.

There are three personalities that has really inspired me. Not for anything but for their tenacity to succeed and become great in life in spite of all the odds against them. They are Helen Keller, John Foppe, and Nick Vujicic. Each of the above mentioned were born with one disability or the other. For instance, Helen Keller was born blind and deaf, John Foppe was born without hands, and Nick Vujicic was born without hands and legs. Someone like Hellen Keller became the first deaf-blind person in the world to obtain bachelors degree in Art. She later became a university professor, political activist, and philanthropist. She wrote several books, had employees working under her, was rich, but never saw a fellow human being with her physical sight. She was once asked in an interview: What’s worse than being born blind? She replied, “To have sight but no vision”. Isn’t that true for some of us, who have their two physical eyes opened, but still working blindly without vision?

John Foppe on the other hand was born into a family of five, without hands. While growing up, he realised his siblings will be putting on clothes by themselves but he cannot. It dawned on him he has no hands. Frustrated and almost committing suicide, he cried out to God like Jabez at a young tender age (1 Chronicles 4:10). God heard his cry and gave him an unusual wisdom on how to use his both legs to do what his hands could have done. His leg became a tool to write, cook, put on clothes, bath, drive a car, and put on his wedding ring. Yes, he’s married to a beautiful wife with children. He has a company with over 40 employees, toured the world, teaching and inspiring people. Yes, MTN brought him at some point to Nigeria to speak to the youth. He wrote a book titled, What’s Your Excuse? Can I go ahead to also talk about Nick Vujicic? No! We don’t have the luxury of time. I would recommend you do a little research, and read up about him.

Friends, none of us lack the ability to be great in life. But you can either choose to be great by unleashing the gifts and talents that God planted in you, or burry it like the unjust steward who decided to do nothing with his talent (Matthew 25:15-46). If we look around us today, there are many excuses why things won’t work. It’s true that the world economy today is in a bad shape. But the actual truth remains that, it depends on what economy you’re focusing. Do you focus more on the world economy that is crumbling with looming famine daring us or God’s economy that controls all other economy? In the heat of this pandemic, some are prospering and waxing strong. I see new buildings springing up everywhere, new businesses emerging, and so on. It takes God nothing to change your story (2 Kings 7). I have begged at some point. But I cried out to God to help me. He told me: “Son, if you’re to be great, you must take your eyes off men, and focus on Me (Jeremiah 17:5-9). My story changed from that moment. If I may ask: What’s your reason to remain poor and not move forward? Why would you rather beg and always disturb people for help? Have you discovered the gifts and talents that God has given you? Why are you not utilizing it? What’s holding you back? What’s your EXCUSE? I leave you to meditate and answer these questions. Have a fantastic week. With love, Elvis!