Select Page
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: This post originally appeared on Kidmin1124.com. Since that site is no longer being updated and will soon be discontinued, I’ve opted to archive this post here.

I’m a bi-vocational pastor.  I do receive a little compensation for my work done at the church, but I still need to work full time outside the church to make it work.  As any of you who are bivo or volunteer know, that means you can shave 40 hours per week right off of the top of what I am able to get done for the church.  Plus, when I do get home from work, the last thing I want to do is work.  I want to be with my family, be entertained, or maybe even hang out with friends.

For probably six months early on in my ministry, there was a lot of stuff that needed done and it was not getting done.  It was becoming a major problem.  I would constantly say, “There isn’t enough time.”

One day, I went through a list of excuses to God – time, money, energy, compensation.  I think all of that was brought up.  And then, like the Good Father that He is, He stole a line from my earthly father,

“That’s no excuse.”  “Bu..bu..but.”  “Don’t make me repeat it.”

So, I committed myself to stop making excuses.  I realized all that time I spent making excuses can actually be used doing work for the church.  Do I now have enough time, money, energy?  Nope.  Am I happier about how I am spending the time, money, and energy I do have?  Usually.  Am I still tempted to make excuses?  Every day.  But the point is that I am taking the little that I have, and instead of burying in the proverbial sand of Facebook, TV, or Farmville, I’m increasing it.

My challenge for you today is to go one week without making any excuses.  I bet you will be surprised at how much you can accomplish.