Friday, August 2, 2019

Inability is no Excuse

Inability to do one task is no excuse for refusing some other task. The oft-quoted (and misquoted) words of Edward E. Hale still ring true.
“I am only one, but still I am one.
“I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
“And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

Helen Keller (blind and deaf from childhood) was one who often quoted these lines. Many people, with all their senses working perfectly, have excused themselves from trying by focusing on their inabilities.

C.S. Lewis spoke to another common excuse when he told a group of students during World War Two, “If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.”

Of course, we cannot do it all. Of course, conditions are unfavorable. But if we hide behind these excuses Satan will see to it that favorable conditions never develop, and what ability we do have will atrophy. The person who does nothing soon reaches a state where he can do nothing.
As some else states,

Moses had a walking stick.
David had a sling.
Samson had a jawbone.
Rahab had a string.
Mary had some perfume.
Dorcas had a needle.
All were used by God.

So, do something. It may not be much but do it and wait for the Lord to bless your effort.
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12, ESV).

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