16/08/2026
FIVE EXCUSES PEOPLE GIVE FOR NOT SERVING GOD
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
• Introduction
God is still calling people.
√ Calling people to serve.
√ Calling people to pray.
√ Calling people to make disciples.
√ Calling people to share the Gospel.
√ Calling people to care for the vulnerable.
√ Calling people to support missionaries.
√ Calling some to cross cultures and go to places where Christ is not yet known.
But when God calls, something interesting often happens.
We start looking for reasons why we cannot respond.
• "I'm too young."
• "I'm too old."
• "I don't know enough."
• "I don't have enough money."
• "Someone else can do it."
• "I'm too busy."
These statements may sound reasonable.
Sometimes they are genuine concerns.
But throughout Scripture, we discover something important:
God has often called people who felt unqualified, inadequate, busy, afraid, or unprepared.
The question is not whether we have everything figured out.
The question is:
Are we willing to trust the God who calls us?
Let's examine five common excuses people give for not serving God and what Scripture teaches us in response.
👉 Excuse 1: "I'm Not Qualified."
Perhaps the most common excuse is:
"I don't know enough."
"I'm not a pastor."
"I haven't been to Bible school."
"I don't know how to preach."
"I don't think I'm spiritually mature enough."
Moses felt this way.
When God called him to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses responded with questions about his ability.
He essentially asked: "Who am I?"
Moses focused on his limitations. God focused on His presence.
God did not tell Moses: "You are perfectly qualified."
Instead, God assured him: "I will be with you."
That is a powerful principle.
God's calling does not depend entirely on our ability. It depends on His power working through willing people.
You may not know everything, but you can learn.
You may not be able to preach to thousands, but you can share your testimony with one person.
You may not know how to plant a church, but you can pray for someone who does.
You may not be a theological expert, but you can open the Bible with someone and learn together.
Don't allow what you don't know to prevent you from using what you do know.
👉 Excuse 2: "I'm Too Young."
Young people sometimes think: " I'll serve God when I'm older."
But God has never said that ministry begins at a particular age.
√ David was young when he faced Goliath.
√ Samuel was young when God called him.
√ Timothy became a significant ministry leader while still relatively young.
And Paul encouraged him:
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers." 1 Timothy 4:12
Young people have tremendous opportunities to influence their generation.
✅ A teenager can pray for the nations.
✅ A student can share Christ with classmates.
✅ A young person can use social media to communicate biblical truth.
✅ A university student can start a Bible study.
✅ A young Christian can encourage another young believer.
Age is not the primary qualification for usefulness. Availability matters.
If you are young, don't wait for permission to love Jesus, serve people, and make disciples.
Start where you are.
Use what God has placed in your hands.
👉 Excuse 3: " I Don't Have Enough Resources."
Another common excuse is: "I don't have money."
Perhaps you would love to support missions but feel that your financial contribution is too small. But missions is not funded only by large donations.
• Some people give money.
• Others give time.
• Some give skills.
• Others give hospitality.
• Some provide transportation.
• Others pray faithfully.
• Some use technology.
• Others encourage missionaries.
• Some give professional expertise.
• Others simply give a listening ear.
Remember the boy who offered his five loaves and two fish to Jesus.
What he had seemed insignificant compared with the need. But when surrendered to Jesus, it became part of a miracle.
The question is not: "Do I have enough?"
The question is: "What do I have that I can place in God's hands?"
Perhaps you have a phone. You can use it to encourage someone.
Perhaps you have a home. You can use it to welcome people.
Perhaps you have a skill. You can use it to serve.
Perhaps you have time. You can use it to pray.
Perhaps you have a small amount of money. You can give it faithfully.
God can use what you surrender to Him.
👉 Excuse 4: "I'm Too Busy."
This excuse is especially common.
"I have work."
"I have school."
"I have children."
"I have business responsibilities."
"Life is already demanding."
And sometimes those responsibilities are genuinely important.
But here's the question:
Is serving God something we add to our lives or something that shapes how we live our lives?
You don't necessarily need to quit your job and become a missionary. You can serve God through your work.
√ A teacher can disciple students.
√ A business owner can demonstrate Christlike integrity.
√ A doctor can serve patients with compassion.
√ A farmer can bless a community.
√ A student can influence classmates.
√ A parent can disciple children.
√ A content creator can use digital platforms to spread the Gospel.
Missions does not always require leaving your location. Sometimes it requires recognizing that where you already are is part of your mission field.
Instead of asking: "When will I have time to serve God?"
Ask: "How can I serve God with the time I already have?"
👉 Excuse 5: "Someone Else Will Do It."
This may be the most dangerous excuse of all.
We see a missionary and think: " They are called to missions."
We see a pastor and think: " That's his responsibility."
We see a missions organization and think: "They will handle it."
We see a needy community and think: "Someone should help them."
But the Great Commission was not given only to pastors.
It was not given only to missionaries.
It was given to Christ's followers.
Every believer has a role in God's mission.
Your role may look different from someone else's.
√ You may pray.
√ Someone else may go.
√ You may give.
√ Someone else may preach.
√ You may encourage.
√ Someone else may plant a church.
√ You may disciple one person.
√ Someone else may disciple hundreds.
But every part matters.
Paul used the human body to explain how believers function together.
The eye cannot say to the hand: "I don't need you."
Likewise, one believer should not assume that someone else can replace their obedience.
God has given you something to contribute.
• What Is Behind Our Excuses?
Sometimes excuses are not really about lack of ability. They are about fear.
• Fear of failure.
• Fear of rejection.
• Fear of sacrifice.
• Fear of what people will think.
• Fear of leaving our comfort zone.
• Fear of the unknown.
Fear can make disobedience sound reasonable.
• Moses was afraid.
• Jeremiah felt inadequate.
• Gideon felt weak.
• Jonah tried to run.
The disciples often struggled with fear. Yet God continued to work through imperfect people.
The issue is not whether you feel afraid.
Faith means choosing obedience even when fear is present.
• God Does Not Need Perfect People
One of the greatest encouragements in Scripture is that God uses ordinary people.
√ Abraham had weaknesses.
√ Moses had insecurities.
√ David had failures.
√ Peter had shortcomings.
√ Paul had a complicated past.
Yet God used them.
Why?
Because God's work ultimately depends on God's grace.
You do not have to become perfect before you serve.
You serve while God continues transforming you.
You grow as you obey.
You learn as you serve.
You become stronger as you trust Him.
• What If You Said "Yes"?
Imagine what could happen if believers stopped saying: "I can't."
And started asking: "Lord, how can You use me?"
√ Imagine a church where everyone prayed for the nations.
√ Imagine young people sharing Christ at school.
√ Imagine families supporting missionaries.
√ Imagine professionals using their skills for Kingdom purposes.
√ Imagine businesses funding Gospel work.
√ Imagine believers welcoming international students.
√ Imagine ordinary Christians discipling their friends.
√ Imagine churches sending missionaries into unreached communities.
√ Imagine thousands of believers saying: "Here am I. Send me."
The impact could be extraordinary.
• Start Where You Are
You don't have to wait for a dramatic opportunity.
Start small.
✅ Pray for one unreached people group.
✅ Share your testimony with one person.
✅ Encourage one missionary.
✅ Disciple one new believer.
✅ Give something toward God's mission.
✅ Volunteer in your local church.
✅ Use your professional skills to serve.
✅ Welcome someone from another culture.
✅ Start a prayer group.
✅ Ask God where He wants you to go next.
Small acts of obedience can become significant Kingdom investments.
• Your "Yes" Could Change a Life
You may never know the full impact of your obedience.
The person you encourage may become a missionary.
The young believer you disciple may plant churches.
The child you teach may grow into a ministry leader.
The missionary you support may reach an unreached community.
The prayer you pray today may open a door tomorrow.
You may think your contribution is small. But God sees the eternal picture.
Never underestimate what He can do through one surrendered life.
• Reflection Questions
Take a few minutes and honestly answer these questions:
1. What excuse have I been using to avoid serving God?
2. What am I afraid might happen if I obey His call?
3. What resources has God already placed in my hands?
4. Who can I serve this week?
5. What is one practical step of obedience I can take today?
• Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling ordinary people to participate in Your extraordinary mission. Forgive us for the times we have allowed fear, insecurity, busyness, lack of resources, or feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying You. Help us to stop focusing on what we lack and start trusting what You can do through us. Give us courage like Isaiah to say, "Here am I. Send me." Show us how to use our time, resources, gifts, relationships, and opportunities for Your Kingdom. Raise up willing disciples, missionaries, prayer warriors, generous givers, church planters, and disciple-makers across Africa and around the world. May our lives become available to You for the sake of the Gospel and the nations. In Jesus' name, Amen.
• To Do
Which excuse have you been using?
"I'm not qualified."
"I'm too young."
"I don't have enough."
"I'm too busy."
"Someone else will do it."
Whatever your excuse has been, bring it honestly before God.
✅ Then replace: "I can't."
with: "Lord, help me."
✅ Replace: " I'm not qualified."
with: "Lord, equip me."
✅ Replace: "I don't have enough."
with: "Lord, use what I have."
✅ Replace: "Someone else will do it."
with: "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
✅ And replace: "I'm afraid."
with: "Lord, I trust You."
Your obedience may begin with something very small.
• A prayer.
• A conversation.
• A gift.
• A phone call.
• A Bible study.
• An invitation.
• A step outside your comfort zone.
But never underestimate what God can do through one person who is willing to say: "HERE AM I. SEND ME!"
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RUI ...Reconciling the World Back to God.