Overcoming the Excuses that Hold Us Back
by LESLIE LUDY
I once heard a story about two young Christians who sold themselves into a lifetime of slavery in order to spread the Gospel among a group of slaves who had been completely cut off from any Christian influence. As the slave ship pulled away from the dock and their friends and family tearfully waved goodbye, knowing they would likely never see them again, the two young men called out, “May the Lamb who was slain receive the reward of His suffering!” They had made a decision that cost them everything, but they knew that the Lamb was worthy.
It’s easy to admire a story like that while inwardly declaring, I could never do something that radical for Jesus. Indeed, we often struggle with far smaller commitments to Christ — like the simple decision to follow Him wholeheartedly in the midst of the halfhearted version of Christianity so common today.
It seems that no sooner are our hearts stirred toward a deeper devotion to Jesus then we are hit with an avalanche of reasons why it’s not a good idea to go that far in our commitment to Him. Satan loves to whisper excuses in our ear, making them sound so wise and reasonable. His goal is to see us stop short of all that God has for us in the Christian life. The enemy loves to watch Christians pitch their tents on the outskirts of the promised land, but never enter it.
If you have been waffling between self-protective living and radical surrender to Christ, chances are you’ve been stymied by one of the enemy’s many clever arguments as to why you should remain comfortably where you are — rather than going forward with Jesus. But just like the rich young ruler, when we settle in the land of mediocrity we toss away the opportunity of a lifetime; the privilege of becoming a devoted follower of the One True King.
Let’s tackle some of the most popular excuses that hold us back from absolute devotion to Jesus Christ, and replace the enemy’s lies with God’s liberating truth.
Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.“ The opposite is also true. He is a fool who holds on to what can never last, choosing the temporal over the eternal. This is the very trap that the rich young ruler fell into. And it’s the same trap many of us get caught in as well.
The enemy, and the culture we live in, want us to believe that the treasures of this world — wealth, comforts, popularity, achievements — are where we will find true happiness. But there is another kind of treasure we are called to seek — treasure that is infinitely beyond the very best this world has to offer. Heavenly treasure.
Any earthly treasures we may gain in this life will never last for eternity. And like Jim Elliot said, we are fools if we try cling to that kind of quickly fading treasure, instead of trading it for heavenly treasure that can never fade away.
Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19–21).
And Psalm 49 paints a vivid picture of someone who spends his life chasing after the happiness this world offers: “…when he dies he shall carry nothing away; though while he lives he blesses himself … he shall go to the generation of his fathers … A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish” (vs. 17–20).
This warning is not merely about the pursuit of money. When we “lay up treasures on earth,” it means we are seeking our happiness in things that are temporal; things that we cannot take with us into eternity. Whether it be worldly accomplishments, popularity, or personal dreams — none of these things hold a candle to the fulfillment we will find in becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ; a follower who holds nothing back.
When we believe the lie that we would be giving up too much in order to radically follow Jesus, we are choosing earthly treasure over heavenly treasure, just as the rich young ruler did. And while our earthly pursuits might bring us temporary emotional happiness, in the end we will discover that we have chosen a pile of worthless pebbles over a truckload of priceless jewels.
Jesus said it plainly, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
Our decision to radically live for Jesus comes down to our value system. Are we living for things that are temporal, or things that are eternal?
It is worth noting that Jesus never asks us to make sacrifices that He Himself was not willing to make. Have you ever stopped to really ponder the enormity of the sacrifice Jesus made for you and me? “[He] being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:6–9).
If Jesus gave up everything for our sake, is He not worthy that we should do the same for Him?
Jim Elliot expressed it so well when he prayed, “Father, let me … loose my clutch on everything temporal. My life, my reputation, my possessions, Lord, let me loose the tension of the grasping hand … open my hand to receive the nail of Calvary, as Christ’s was opened … He thought Heaven, yea, equality with God, not a thing to be clutched at. So let me release my grasp.”
If you are tempted to believe that the cost of radically following Jesus is too great, take a moment to remember what He gave up for your sake. When we grasp the reality of Calvary, the idea of the cost being too great will seem like the most foolish notion in the universe.
There is an odd idea that has crept into modern Christianity over the past few decades. It says that radically following Jesus and building our lives completely around Him is only for a few unique Christians in every generation; those special people who are specifically called to become Christian heroes and do big things for God. Meanwhile, the rest of us feel that we have a right to live a bit more softly and comfortably. We can simply fit Jesus into our lives when it is convenient — go to Bible studies, listen to Christian music, and read Christian books to make us feel spiritual. We feel justified living a self-focused existence with a few Christian morals woven into our daily activities. After all, not everyone is called to be “extreme” in living out their Christian faith.
There is nothing biblical about this reasoning. No matter what our specific callings or gifts may be, our commitment to Jesus is always meant to be “extreme,” because what Jesus did for us was extreme. Jesus does not mince words about what it means to truly follow Him: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25).
These words are not comfortable and easy, but extreme and radical. Give up everything. Deny self. Take up our cross. Lose our lives for His sake.
If we truly take those words to heart, we will not imagine for a moment that we can simply put a Christian label over our mediocre lifestyle. Becoming a Christian is meant to radically impact every area of our lives. The Bible says that when we come to Christ we are no longer our own but that we have been bought with a price and are now the bondservants of the Most High God. (See Romans 6:16 and 1 Corinthians 3:16.) So why would we assume we can follow Jesus and also live easy, soft, selfish, comfortable lives?
Absolute givenness to Jesus Christ is not for special Christians; it is for every Christian.
Does this mean that every true Christian is meant to accomplish history-changing feats for God? Or is it possible to be a devoted follower of Jesus and live a simple, ordinary life?
It all boils down to the condition of our heart. Not every servant of Christ is called to accomplish tasks that will directly shape the course of history in a dramatic, obvious way. But every servant of Christ is called to be fully about their Father’s business, wherever He has placed them. This is how the Kingdom of God is built — through Christ-followers who faithfully and completely serve Him even behind the scenes, even in the small, seemingly unimpressive things.
Whether we are called to serve one little child in Jesus’ name or speak powerful truth before nations, our lives are to be hallmarked by unreserved service to the One who gave everything for us. Jesus said, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” (Matt. 24:45–46).
On the flip side, when we become caught up in the pursuits and pleasures of this world we merely fool ourselves into thinking we are devoted to Jesus when in reality we are more devoted to ourselves. In the end, it will be abundantly clear which of us took our calling seriously and which of us did not:
But if that evil servant says in his heart, “My master is delaying his coming,” and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 24:48–51)
By God’s grace, let us remain alert, steadfast, faithful, and yes, extreme, in our givenness to the things of God. Jesus said, “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching” (Lk. 12:37).
There are no “special Christians” — only faithful Christians. May we be counted among the faithful.
In a culture where social approval is king, choosing a path that may cause us to be misunderstood or even rejected can feel very daunting. But misunderstanding and rejection are par for the course if we truly want to be followers of Christ. 1 John 3:13 tells us, “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.”
Jesus is very clear about the fact that true Christianity will often cause us to be reviled and rejected — sometimes even by our own families. He says, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18).
And, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11–12).
And lastly, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;’ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:34–38).
Among the most important of our earthly treasures to lay down when we take up our cross to follow Jesus is approval from friends and family.
In our comfortable Western culture, we are not trained to expect suffering, persecution, or rejection because of our faith. We want our Christianity to fit into a neat little box that allows us to maintain our good social standing and doesn’t interfere with our day-to-day relationships. But throughout Christian history and in many countries around the world today, it is understood that saying yes to Jesus often means saying no to peaceful family and social relationships.
I recently read a true story about several young people in a Muslim country whose own relatives had them tortured and killed because of their conversion to Christianity. These young believers had known that this could be the outcome of their decision to follow Jesus — and they died triumphantly, though not without pain and heartache.
Courageous Christians through the ages have faced similar scenarios, enduring misunderstanding, rejection, persecution, and even death at the hands of their own friends and family — all because they stood unashamedly with Jesus. In light of their brave examples, it is sad to think how often we hesitate to stand boldly for our faith among our own friends and family when the stakes are usually much lower.
Yes, tension in our daily relationships may be the result of our radical devotion to Jesus. But remember, He gave up everything for us. Encountering a small measure of the rejection He faced on our behalf is a small way to share in the fellowship of His sufferings — and He is worthy.
No matter what discord, criticism, or rejection may come our way because of our commitment to Jesus, let’s say along with the Apostle Paul, “none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy…” (Acts 20:24).
Many modern Christians who are disturbed by the compromise prevalent in the modern church often try to solve the problem by relying on legalism and self-effort to keep them from the pitfalls of worldliness. Consequently, if today’s churches aren’t filled with carnal, compromising believers, they are often filled with prideful, self-righteous ones.
And because we have seen so many legalistic attempts to become “separate from this world,” many of us have a distorted view of what it means to be radically devoted to Christ. We worry it means that we’ll become a stiff, somber, “holier-than-thou” type of woman who is far too concerned about following a set of rules to ever relax or enjoy life. But we must understand that legalism and passionate devotion to Christ are two very different things. Legalism oppresses, but true devotion liberates. Legalism chokes life, but true devotion gives life. Legalism is based upon self-effort, but true devotion is based upon the supernatural enabling grace of God. Legalism is based upon rules, but true set apart devotion is based upon a relationship with the King of all kings.
Early in my Christian walk I sometimes struggled with the lie that it was all up to me to keep my life on the straight and narrow path. It was easy to fall into the trap of doing all the right things based on self-effort and willpower. Then I quickly lost my joy and felt weighed down by the idea of radically following Christ.
One day, a simple yet profound verse in the book of Jude helped set things straight for me: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).
As I read those powerful words, I was freshly reminded that Christ — and Christ alone — was the One who could keep me from stumbling. My job was not to make a list of spiritual rules to put my trust in and obey. Rather, my job was to simply abide in Jesus Christ. If I abided in Him, He would keep me from stumbling. If I abided in Him, He would keep my passion for Him alive and thriving. (See 1 John 3:6 and John 15 for more about abiding in Christ.)
Avoiding spiritual burnout is based upon the same principle.
Romans 12:11 tells us to, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV). To never be lacking in spiritual passion and zeal for the things of God is truly impossible in our own strength. Only God can equip us by His amazing, enabling grace to obey this astounding command.
As a seasoned believer once said, “God never issued instructions that He does not equip us to obey.” We are called to be radically, passionately devoted to Jesus Christ — always. And when we abide in Him, we will have the strength to do just that.
It says in Psalm 84: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage … They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion” (vs. 5–7, emphasis added).
Lord, set our hearts on pilgrimage and may we find our strength in You alone.
. . .
Though we live in a world surrounded by mediocrity, though other church-goers may deem the path of true devotion radical and extreme — will we dare to live for more?
Jesus Himself has called you by name. He has invited you to become His follower — no matter the cost. It is time to make your choice. Will you go back to your comforts, as the rich young ruler did? Or will you run to Him with a heart of absolute surrender? Will you stand among those who have chosen to follow in the footsteps of the Lamb, no matter the cost?
My prayer is that this creed will hallmark your life:
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the Cross before me;
The world behind me, the Cross before me;
The world behind me, the Cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
If your answer is yes, you will never regret your decision. As John Buchan once wrote, “You will have chosen the roughest road, but it leads straight to the hilltops.”
However difficult the road may be, there can be no greater joy than one day standing before our King and hearing Him say the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).
Looking for Part one? Read it here.
