Commitment, what does it mean? Commitment is a pledge, promise, or dedication to a specific course of action, person, or organization. Commitment puts boundaries on our lives, and it restricts us. It requires loyalty. Loyalty is a sincere, steadfast devotion to something. It requires active involvement, dedicating our time, effort, and often money to a cause.
A person who is married made a commitment when they vowed: “Until death do us part.” They were committed to being faithful until one of them dies. When we become a Christian, we are committing our lives to God. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus is calling us to a commitment to love. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” He then broadens that commitment to love others as we love ourselves.
Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
In Proverbs 16:3, we are called to commit to working for the Lord. When we commit our work to the Lord, He will guide and direct. We are focused on doing it right, and we gather our thoughts to fulfill our commitment. When we commit our work to the Lord, it takes on new purpose. It is no longer drudgery. We realize we don’t have to do the task; we get to do the task. Suddenly, our work takes on new life, which changes our attitude.
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
In Romans 12:1, we commit our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. He goes on to say that this commitment is our reasonable service; it is not exorbitant or extravagant. Those whom Paul was speaking to fully understood the meaning of sacrifice. They would sacrifice animals as an offering to God as an atonement for their sins. The offering was entirely released to God. When we give our lives to God, we release all claims and rights over our lives to Him. When we are saved, we begin the process of daily dying to self. It is a lifelong journey of surrender to the one who loves us most.
I Corinthians 15:31 “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
Commitment demands perseverance, and it will cost you something. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus is teaching them what a commitment to Him will cost. “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever you go. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” While you may have a home, a family, and friends that God allows you to enjoy, they should never take first place in your heart. We must commit to following Jesus no matter what it may cost us.
We live in a world where commitment means I will do what I said I would do, as long as I feel like it or it is convenient. This attitude filters into the church, watering down what it means to be committed. If we have something else we want to do, or we are tired, we yield to the flesh and what makes it feel better. If we are to be committed Christians, we must remember several things that we are taught in the Bible.
We must not grow weary in our commitment to the Lord. Galatians 6:9 teaches this biblical truth. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” There is a reward for staying committed and persevering. While we do not work for the reward, we will enjoy it one day. The only way to not become weary is to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on ourselves.
After we make a commitment, we are to be steadfast and unmovable. Our commitment should be settled in our hearts and minds. Never should we allow our minds to consider quitting or compromising on the Lord.
I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Keeping a commitment to the Lord will not always be easy, but it will be rewarding. We must persevere and keep our focus on Jesus. We are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, not our own. Then we can say as Paul did in II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
