ANY EXCUSE WILL DO
In one of the “Big Three” conferences during World War II, Roosevelt and Churchill were trying to get Stalin to agree with some proposed strategy. When Stalin gave his reason or excuse for not agreeing with them, they said, “That is no reason for your refusal!” Stalin replied with a story of two Arabs.
One Arab asked the other to lend him his rope. The latter replied, “I can’t. I need it to tie my camel.” The first Arab reminded his companion that he didn’t own a camel. To which the companion replied, “I know that. But when you don’t want to lend your rope, one excuse is as good as any other.”
Excuses offered to God are in the same category. They reveal that we simply do not want to do what He tells us to do
[Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (262). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.). From a sermon by Matthew Kratz, Prepare His Kingdom, 12/10/2010]