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The urgency of a study of commitment has become very evident to me. As I felt an interest in such a study and realized the great need
for it, I began to search books in my library for information on the subject. I searched approximately twenty books and, with the
exception of the dictionaries, only one or two books mentioned it. It is needed and yet so little has been written about it. May this lesson
stimulate our concern for this subject of such great importance.
Commitment is important because it is needed in so many areas of our lives. Those who hold political or ecclesiastical offices "should
carry out their duties with commitment. If a politician or a minister does not have a sense of commitment to his position or to those whom
he represents or serves, he is not likely to benefit anyone. The lack of commitment in such roles results in poor government and apathetic
congregations.
Commitment is also needed with regard to jobs or education. If an employee does not have a sense of commitment to his job and
employer, then he is not likely to perform the job well. If a student does not have a commitment to achieving his education, he is likely
to become a dropout or do just enough studying to remain in school. In such cases the job may be performed, but not with excellence, or
the degree may be acquired, but not the education.
The marriage relationship also desperately needs commitment. Many people merely repeat vows, entering the holy estate of marriage in
order to meet their personal needs or desires, but having no feeling of commitment toward the person to whom they are married. Without
commitment marriages are often doomed to failure. The commitment together. If either companion is not committed, the marriage will
deteriorate until it is dissolved, through no fault of the one who is committed. In compatible marriages where couples live a lifetime
together, there is generally evidence of a very deep sense of commitment.
Another relationship in which commitment is necessary is the spiritual relationship which exists among members of a church body.
Many people are not aware of the need for commitment in their church relationships. They think of themselves only as a group of
people who belong to the same organization, but church membership is far more than that.
Many churches stress the importance of commitment by adopting a formal statement of objectives which is sometimes referred to as a
church covenant. Those who join a church are in effect obligating themselves to strive for the holy objectives of that body of believers.
Often the objectives are not achieved because there are so few members who seriously regard their church covenant. Many members could
not tell you whether or not they have such a covenant in their church. Some who are aware of its existence attach little or no importance
to it and feel no need of commitment to the stated holy pledge. It seems unlikely that anyone will keep such solemn promises without
substantial commitment. Perhaps the lack of such commitment accounts for the apathy and indifference which afflict so many in
modern day Christianity, including some of our own churches. Let us recommit ourselves to the church to which we belong. As a sense
of commitment spreads throughout the churches, they will then have a more powerful influence against sin in the world.
It is evident that we also need a greater dedication to church covenants as an expression of our commitment to Christ our Lord.
This is commitment at its highest level. Without sincere loyalty to Christ, we probably will accomplish little in His church and service,
and our religion will likely become an empty experience through which we endeavor to gratify ourselves. Too many have made a decision
to live for Christ but have no commitment. As God spoke to their hearts by the Holy Spirit and Holy Word, they gradually withered
and fell away as did those who received seed (the Word) in the stony places (Mt. 13:20-21). Remaining faithful to the Lord for years beyond
baptism and the fascination of a new experience requires a deep resolve to live for Jesus and never to turn from His ways. Decision may be
momentary, but commitment is more lasting. Unfortunately many saved people have never made such a solemn dedication to Christ,
yet the need to do so remains. Anyone truly devoted to Christ says, "...Lord, I will follow thee withersoever thou goest" (Luke 9:57).
It should now be obvious that commitment is an essential ingredient
in life, in both the spiritual and secular realms. When this ingredient
is left out life is not as pleasant as it could be. In baking,
if one of the essential ingredients is omitted, the final product will
not be right. The same is true with regard to the lives of people who
are without commitment.
Commitment involves doing something, not simply feeling something. The word commit means to do or perform. In the Bible
sin is something people commit or do. Notice 1 Cor. 10:8, "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in
one day three and twenty thousand." The word committed carries the idea of having entrusted a person with the care of something of
value. John 5:22 says, "For the Father judgeth no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son ..." Similarly, God has given
us many abilities and gifts, which He committed to our care and use. Finally, the word commitment conveys the idea of engagement or
pledge. If we have commitment, we become engaged in the task and pledge ourselves to perform our duty. Those ideas may be combined
or condensed to being obligated either by an intellectual conviction or by emotional ties to an idea or person. This study emphasizes that
our greatest need is commitment to Christ and His ideals.
Jesus gave the commission, but we are to supply the commitment. We often refer to Matthew 28:19-20as the "Great Commission." Jesus
said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, 10, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." He gave
that command to His apostles and disciples, so both they and we are to respond obediently. In the Bible, our Lord has made known His
will for our lives. Whatever He commands us to do is His commission to us. Our willingness to obey the commandments depends on our
being strongly devoted in our hearts to Him.
Have you ever made a commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ, to live for Him and do His will?If you never have, then you should give
high priority to doing so. Do you feel that Christ died for you on a cruel Roman cross? Do you realize that He possessed a great deal
of commitment to the Father's will and to us in our need for salvation? Search then your heart, and I hope that you will feel the need for
a greater commitment to Christ and all that is holy and good. If you are saved by His grace but have made no commitment to the Lord
and His service, your life will never be as fulfilling and gratifying as otherwise it could be.
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