Commitment

What comes to mind when you hear the word commitment?

In it to win it!
Marriage
Personal and professional goals
Dedication
A vow

Those come to my mind.

Have you considered the words allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity
Or
Responsibility, obligation, duty, tie, liability?

Commitment is all of the above! Didn’t know it was a test, huh?

Commitment is an act of committing to change or trust. A willingness to give your time and energy to something you believe in and the act of following through.

Ashbash addressed commitment in the Urban Dictionary. It’s so beautifully written, it’s included here:

Commitment is what
Transforms the promise into reality.
It is the words that speak
Boldly of your intentions.
And the actions which speak
Louder than the words.
It is making the time
When there is none.
Coming through time
After time after time,
Year after year after year.
Commitment is the stuff
Character is made of;
The power to change
The face of things.
It is the daily triumph
Of integrity over skepticism.
When I say I love you,
I mean that I’m committed to working
to love you even when it’s hard.

So I ask myself – Is my commitment for a life-time – or part-time?

Do I choose when to turn commitment off and on?
Do I decide then DO that which was worth my commitment at some point?

Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 1 Corinthians 7:27 (NIV)

Do we want our husbands committed to us? Part-time or for a life-time?

Oh, is that even a fair question? Here’s the next one…

Do they want us committed to them? Are we willing to give our heart to get their commitment? Part-time or for a life-time?

OUCH!

“So now: Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped on the far side of The River (the Euphrates) and in Egypt. You, worship God. Joshua 24:14 (The Message)

Fear God! Worship Him, yes worship God. He commands total commitment.

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message)

Eugene Peterson summarized the discussion in The Message Bible about commitment so well.

God brings gifts into our lives when we live His way.
Fruit appears
Affection for others
Exuberance for life
Serenity
A willingness to stick with things
A sense of compassion in the heart
A conviction that holiness permeate things AND people
Loyal commitments

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Philippians 3:15-16 (The Message)

Now that’s total commitment. Amen!