Some years ago, I was talking to a young man who was preparing for the ministry and the church he was a part of had asked him for a two-year commitment. I thought that strange because my idea of serving the Lord, in the context of His Body, was a life-time commitment. Before my conversion to Christ, I had been one that tried his best to avoid any type of commitment. My relationships were temporary and self-centered, the jobs I took were just steppingstones to something better, and it was hard to stay in one place. It was quite a struggle to make the decision to marry, even though I was head-over-heels in love with my soon to be wife. Commitment was scarry to me because I saw it as losing my freedom.
In our first year of marriage, all I could think of was moving out of the place where we were living and be off to see the world. Both my wife and I felt called to missions and we were ready. Then, it was like a bombshell was dropped on us when we heard the Lord say: “Stay here the rest of your life.” We could think of nothing worse than living in this “cowboy town” in America’s Northwest. What a struggle, but we finally relinquished our “rights” over our lives and said “yes” to God’s will. We bought a house, had our first child, and settled in for the long haul. We were part of a wonderful group of friends that had a heart to serve the Lord and we were really enjoying our life, until the Lord said, “Now, go”. By that time, we had commitments to pay off our house and car, we had commitments in our local church, we commitments everywhere…it was hard to just pack up and leave.
What we had to learn is that our primary commitment was to the Lord. All other commitments had to be of lesser importance. The psalmist said: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalms 37:5) By committing our way to the Lord, we are trusting our desires, future, and our very lives in His hands. We are saying that God knows best. Look at verses 3 and 4: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” After committing our ways to the Lord, then we can be faithful to do what He desires. In this our joy will be full because the Lord gives us the desires of our heart.
Many have become overloaded with commitments to the wrong things. They have said “yes” to so many obligations that they have no time nor energy left to say “yes” to God. Those who do so, are often motivated by the need for affirmation or manipulated by the fear of man. These false burdens laid on us by others only drain us of virtue and leaves us frustrated and burned out. God’s burden is easy and his load is light. By first committing ourselves to God, we can then establish boundaries that will protect us from involvement in areas that would keep us from what God has called us to do.
Commitments are promises one agrees to do. You say “yes” to monthly payments when you buy a house and “yes” to attending classes when enrol in school. When you marry, you say “I do” to a life-long commitment. That is a good commitment to make. We make commitments all the time. Before saying “yes” make sure it is what God wants you to do. First, commit your ways to the Lord and everything else will follow.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Psalms 37:5; 55:22; Proverbs 16:3; Matthew 6:33; 11:30