Sermons

 Committed? Or Not
1 Kings 19:15-21, Luke 9:51-62, 2 Kings 2:3-18

On April 21st, in the year 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez sailed into the harbor of Vera Cruz, Mexico. He brought with him about 600 men, and yet over the next two years his vastly outnumbered forces were able to defeat Montezuma and all the warriors of the Aztec empire, making Cortez the conqueror of all Mexico.

How was this incredible feat accomplished, when two prior expeditions had failed even to establish a colony on Mexican soil? Here’s the secret. Cortez knew from the very beginning that he and his men faced incredible odds. He knew that the road before them would be dangerous and difficult. He knew that his men would be tempted to abandon their quest and return to Spain. So, as soon as Cortez and his men had come ashore and unloaded their provisions, he ordered their entire fleet of eleven ships destroyed.

His men stood on the shore and watched as their only possibility of retreat burned and sank. And from that point on, they knew beyond any doubt there was no return, no turning back. Nothing lay behind them but empty ocean. Their only option was to go forward, to conquer or die.

Let me read you another story from the Old Testament book of 1 Kings [19:15-21]. It involves the prophet Elijah and the calling of his attendant and successor, Elisha:

"The LORD said to [Elijah], ’Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint . . . Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet’ . . . . So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. ’Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,’ he said, "and then I will come with you.’ ’Go back," Elijah replied. ’What have I done to you?’ So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant."

Here we see Elisha, a simple farmer, who is suddenly and unexpectedly approached by the famous prophet Elijah and invited to accompany him and serve him as his personal attendant. When Elisha requests time to first go home and say good-bye to his parents, Elijah makes it clear that the decision to come is entirely Elisha’s to make. "What have I done to you?" means, in essence, "What claim do I have on you?" And the implied answer is "none." In other words, Elisha is free to stay or go.

In response, Elisha not only chooses to accept the call, but he slaughters his oxen and feeds them to his neighbors, burning his plowing equipment to cook the meat. By doing this, he publicly declares his intention to leave his former way of life and follow Elijah.

My topic this morning is "commitment," are we committed? and I’ve given you two powerful illustrations of that concept. You’ve heard of "burning your bridges;" now you’ve heard of "burning your boats," and "burning your oxen."

What does it mean to be committed? It means making a firm choice. It means not worrying about keeping your options open or leaving yourself a way out. It means pursuing something wholeheartedly, with no contingency plans to fall back on.

It means being 100% sold out to a person, or a cause, or a goal; not holding anything back, not keeping anything in reserve.

Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

The difference in a contribution and total commitment is usually the difference in failure and success!" (Remember the chicken and the hog story.)

Commit = Bind oneself to a pledge. Entrust to another’s care.

Commitment = A pledge based upon honor.

Commitment gives us new power. No matter what comes to us – sickness, poverty, or disaster – we never turn our eye from the goal.

To the Boxer, it’s getting off the mat one more time than you’ve been knocked down.

To the marathoner, it’s running another ten miles when your strength is gone.

To the soldier, it’s going over the hill, not knowing what’s waiting on the other side, with reckless abandon to self, yet committed to a cause.

To the missionary, it’s saying good-bye to your own comfort to make life better for others.

To the real Christian, it’s all that and more because everyone who is watching your life is depending upon you to get back up again, run that ten miles more, to display courage when faced with the unknown, and to die to self for the betterment of others.

There is no such thing as partial commitment. Say that with me. 

When the pilot of a giant airliner is speeding down the runway, there is a certain point where he cannot decide to remain on the ground. When he crosses that line, he is committed to the air, or the plane crashes.

Commitment is a foundation for successful Christian living.

The Lord is going to stand behind His Promises. He is committed to what He has said and done. For the Christian there can be nothing less. Commitment is an absolute necessity.

Commitment is always tested by action.  It’s one thing to talk about commitment. It’s another to do something about it, it “Separates the doers from the dreamers”

 “Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them day after day.”

What God wants are disciples who are so committed to Him that they will burn their bridges, or their boats, or their oxen.

Disciples who will detect whatever is holding them back, and who will follow Him wherever He leads. Are you that kind of disciple? Do you want to be?

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Christianity without commitment is always Christianity without Christ. Say that with me.

Commitment is the mindset that refuses to compromise its relationship with Jesus Christ. To commit to something means – to have a mindset that is already made up.

When we commit to being a Christian we in essence commit to being a witness for Jesus Christ to all we come in contact with.

Commitment has received a negative rap today in our society. Our society has become a culture lacking more and more commitment to causes, patriotism, organizations, churches, schools, and yes, even to each other in marriage.

Commitment is an essential part of the Christian walk. When we say we need to be committed to Christ it means the following:

1. When we commit, it means we have the mindset to stick with it to the end. Proverms15:14

2. When we commit, we stand on our values even if others disagree.  Proverbs16:17

3. When we commit, we determine not to compromise our ethics.  Proverbs 16:21

4. When we commit, we refuse to be polluted by the world’s ways.  Proverbs 16:25

5. When we commit, we take responsibility for our actions.  Proverbs 15:33

6. When we commit, we trust God when we face impossible situations.  Proverbs 16:4a

7. When we commit, we see God use us mightily in His kingdom to influence others.  Proverbs 16:6-7

When we learn the value and benefits of commitment, we become amazed at the results.

You ask what kind of results? Here are a few that I have observed as a result of making a commitment to Jesus Christ:

1. Commitment brings peace and contentment.  Proverbs 15:16

2. Commitment brings divine insight to my life.  Proverbs 15:29

3. Commitment brings focus to my life.  Proverbs 16:1

4. Commitment brings integrity.  Proverbs 16:2

5. Commitment brings success to my life.  Proverbs 16:3

6. Commitment brings a life filled with fruitful labor.  Proverbs 16:20

7. Commitment brings a closer relationship with the Lord.  Proverbs 18:10

8. Commitment brings respect from others.  Proverbs 16:7

9. Commitment brings changed lives.  Proverbs 16:5

10. Commitment brings hope to the hopeless.  Proverbs 19:23

11. Commitment brings eternal rewards.  Proverbs 16:6

12. Commitment brings honor to God who in return honors you.  Proverbs 19:21

God dislikes wishy-washiness. He doesn’t care for fence-sitters. He isn’t pleased by people who can’t quite make up their minds, who are forever weighing their options, who can never settle on a course of action.

God isn’t calling us to act rashly, without any thought of the consequences. What He wants are people who will follow Him with joyful abandon, without regret, without looking back. Listen to the words of Jesus:

"He said to another man, ’Follow me.’ But the man replied, ’Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ’Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ’I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ’No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’" – Luke 9:59-62

Are you sold out for God? Are you determined to seek after God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Or are you trying to have it both ways?

Are you trying to serve God just enough to keep your conscience quiet, while at the same time you’re also following after the things of the world?

Folks, there is no more certain way to make yourself miserable than to try to serve God, and to also serve the world, and yourself.

Jesus said: It’s better to be a wholehearted pagan, following after the world with all your strength. At least then, there’s hope for your conversion. But a half hearted, so-called "Christian" is something God despises. It nauseates Him. It makes Him want to throw up. Listen:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.’ – Revelation 3:15-17

It’s nauseating, that’s how Christ feels about a lukewarm disciple. So, what are you? Hot? Cold? Or just disgustingly tepid? Think about that, while you listen to what Jesus says about being single-minded:

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." – Luke 16:13

On the surface, this doesn’t seem impossible at all. Why should wealth be incompatible with godliness? And in fact, some preachers today will tell you that wealth is not only consistent with godliness but is actually a sign of godliness.

But the Scriptures tell us that it is impossible – impossible! – to serve God and at the same time serve anything else. You can’t serve God and also serve money. You can’t serve God and also serve safety and security. You can’t serve God and also serve career advancement.

Why? Because we can only run full speed in one direction. Because there’s only room in our hearts for one consuming passion. And the object of our love, and devotion, must be Jesus Christ, because He alone is worthy of it. Listen again to the Word of God:

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." – James 1:6-8

That means if we are praying to God just as a way of covering our bases, then we shouldn’t expect a reply. If we want to receive anything from God, then our dependence has to be completely upon Him.

If we want Him to supply our needs, then our attitude must be one of complete reliance on Him as the source of every good thing.

If we’re uncertain about whether we should trust in God or in something else, then we shouldn’t be surprised if our halfhearted prayers go unanswered.

God answers the prayers of those who place their welfare and happiness entirely in His hands, who look to Him alone for the good things they desire.

When Jesus calls us to be disciples, He calls us to make a lifelong, irrevocable, absolute commitment.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ . . . In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." – Luke 14:26-33

When we undertake to follow Christ, He invites us to first count the cost. Because once we set out on that road, there will be many temptations to turn back, to turn aside from the path.

Jesus wants us to consider carefully what we’re getting into, so that we don’t fail at a critical moment and dishonor ourselves, and Him as well.

He wants us to determine in our hearts, once and for all, that when we follow Him, there will be no turning back. We’ve crossed the point of no return. And there’s really no alternative.

Acts 4:12 tells us, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

 Listen to what Peter says in John 6: "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." – John 6:66-68

In other words, "Jesus, you’re the only game in town. No matter what, we’re sticking with you." That’s the kind of attitude God desires from us.

Okay, from a practical standpoint, why is it so important to be radically committed to Christ? Why is it necessary to "burn our bridges" to the world? Why is it so important to take concrete steps to put the world behind us?

Because as long as we have the option of turning back, as long as we can mentally entertain the possibility of giving up, then we’ve lost our edge.

It’s very difficult to maintain the energy, and focus, and drive necessary to follow Christ through the hard times, if, in the back of our mind, we’re saying to ourselves, "I can always quit. If this gets too uncomfortable; or too unpleasant; or too demanding, I can always go back to the way I was."

That’s why we have so many marriage failures. That potential escape, that "out" of possibly leaving, robs them of the energy and commitment they need to work through their difficulties.

Let me give you another example. Baptism. Some of have not yet been baptized, even though they have trusted Christ. There are many reasons why people hesitate to be baptized – concern for what other people will think, or perhaps what their family will think; fear of going under the water; uncertainty as to whether they should be baptized if they were sprinkled as an infant; a reluctance to be up in front of a group of people and be the focus of attention.

My intention this morning is not to judge anyone, or to pressure anyone. But there’s a reason that Jesus instituted this practice, a reason why He made this, along with the Lord’s Supper, one of the two ordinances of the church to be practiced until His return.

It’s because baptism is a stake in the ground. It’s a way of publicly burning our boats, of symbolically destroying our way of retreating.

It’s a way of solidifying our commitment to Christ, so that we will be less likely to turn aside from following Him when the going gets tough.

In baptism, we proclaim to the whole world, once and for all, "I am a Christian!" Jesus commands us to be baptized for the same reason that Cortez ordered his ships to be burned. It helps us to stay committed.

Let me give you one more example. Church membership. Again, people have different reasons for not officially joining the church, and again my purpose is not to judge or pressure anyone.

Is it possible to be committed to the church without officially joining? Of course. Just as it’s possible to be committed to a man or a woman without becoming officially married. It’s possible to be a committed, faithful common-law wife or common-law husband.

I’ll freely admit that the Bible doesn’t say anything about officially "joining" a church, just as it doesn’t say anything about marriage licenses or wedding ceremonies. So why do it?

Because church membership is a way of solidifying our commitment to a local church body. It’s a way of saying, "I’m one of these people. This is my church family." It’s a stake in the ground that helps you to stay engaged in the life of the church, even if the day comes when you might feel inclined to leave or God might be calling you elsewhere.

It’s a public statement of commitment that makes it a little more likely that you’ll stay and work things out, rather than just fading away, as people sometimes do.

I’m confident there are people dealing with all kinds of issues related to commitment, issues that have nothing to do with the examples I’ve cited.

So, in closing, let me ask you a question: what do you need to do to be completely devoted to Christ? What "boats" is God calling you to burn? What "escape hatches" or "exit doors" do you need to slam shut and padlock? What tangible steps of commitment is God calling you to make today?

Just Asking in Jesus’ Name, Amen!