Are you committed?

Webster’s Dictionary defines commitment as “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.” I might define it as going all in. The person who is committed has gone all in with nothing held in reserve. There is no contingency plan.

No holding back. I’m all in. Whatever it takes, I’m willing to lay it on the line. My commitment is backed by my e◊ort, time, resources and very life.

Based on that defi nition, how many things in your life are you committed to?

How many things have your unreserved, whatever it takes commitment?

Now, before you add something to your list, be certain that it’s something that you are really committed to. Not simply interested in or committed to until it gets hard. Not just something you have an emotional attachment to, but it matters enough to you to go all in. At the risk of using a well worn example, if you will share with me your calendar commitments and where you spend your money, I can tell you where you’re really committed. It’s really those areas of life where you’re actually investing yourself.

I would argue that we’re not as good at commitment as our parents and grandparent’s generations were. Culturally we seem to be moving further and further away from a willingness to commit like that. We prefer to keep our options open. Being locked into a commitment is not very appealing, after all we might change our mind. What if circumstances change and then our options would be limited by a previous commitment? How can I really go all in and still take care of me? Sometimes it seems that we say or think we’re committed, but then the cost increases to a level we’re simply not willing to pay.

You can see this cultural change and its corresponding impact showing up in marriage and familylife. It’s changed the work place and our communities. It could be that it has changed politics and many other areas of life.

I would argue that apart from radical commitments our life and culture will su◊er. When people no longer make signifi cant commitments to marriage and relationships, relationships will su◊er and the ripple e◊ect of that will be wide spread.

When our commitment to our spouse or children is secondary to our commitment to our personal pleasure or comfort, we will opt out when it gets hard.

When we give our word to commit to a contract or agreement and we’re not all in, we will break that commitment when circumstances change or keeping it becomes too di◊cult.

The people who make a di◊erence in all areas of life and culture are committed to something bigger than themselves.

While caring for yourself is good and even Biblical, if the biggest commitment you have is to your personal comfort or pleasure, your accomplishments and impact in life will be small indeed. The husband radically committed to his wife and family will make a di◊erence in their lives and our culture.

The follower of Christ radically committed to the cause of Christ in the world and His bride, the local church, will make a di◊erence in eternity. The people who have made the biggest di◊erence in your life were committed.

What are you committed to? In what areas of your life are you committed to something bigger than yourself? It matters!

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Editor’s note: Al Fowler is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at 451-8192, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 11/06/2013