Huntington Church of Christ

Several years ago a scheduling conflict between Bible Study and baseball arose causing our eldest son to miss a little league play-off game. The coaches' wife quite firmly rebuked my wife for not allowing Matt to play the game. This "concerned" mother advised us we were not teaching our son to "honor his commitments". My beloved wife held her ground and told this woman our son had a commitment since the day of his birth to serve God, and attedning Bible studies and other services was a aprt of this commitment. This woman just didn't get it. You see, the world does not understand what it means to commit to Jesus Christ.

True commitment is a growing problem in the Lord's church. Many people are committed to secular things, such as work, recreation, and social matters, than to Christ. Let's take a moment to consider what true commitment is all about.

COMMITMENT BEGINS IN BAPTISM

When we are baptized into Christ Jesus, we enter a life long commitment of faithful service. In baptism we "put off the old man with his doings, and...put on the new man, ...being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created (us)" (Col. 3:9,10). We are baptized to "walk in a newness of life" (Rom. 6:4), realizing our subjection to Christ (Eph. 5:22-24). This means we obey the commands of our Lord, instead of the rule of men (Acts 5:29; John 14:15; 15:14). Paul referred to our "spiritual service" in Romans 12;1,2. He instructs, "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to the world: but be ye transformed..." We also subject ourselves to the authority of Jesus by obeying those who oversee the local church (Hebrews 13:7). When such men of God deem services necessary and helpful for our spiritual welfare, we should faithfully attend (Hebrews 10:25,26)>

COMMITMENT TO BRETHREN

Christians are to be committed to one another. We should encourage and uplift weak brethren (Galatians 6:1,2). "Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). One way this is accomplished is through faithful attendance (Hebrews 10:25)> Paul writes of this unity and commitment in 1 Corinthians 12 "...The members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffereth, all member suffer with it; or one member is honored, all members rejoice with it" (vs. 25-26). This is a commitment of fellowship.

Too many people are ready to drop their responsibility to God and brethren to dos omething "fun". Christians must realize that when they obey the Gospel, they obliged themselves to daily works. If we are unwilling to sacrifice our life and time for Christ, heaven will not be ours (Romans 12:1,2). Jesus said, "He that doth not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:34-38)>

MARITAL COMMITMENT

Commitment to God and Christ does not cease when two people are married. When the man and woman come together ot establish a new home, they must be committed to God's principles. God obliges the Husband to be the loving head and provider (Ephesians 5:25-29; 1 Timothy 5:8), and the woman to submissively care for the well-being of the family (Titus 2:4-5). Both husband and wife must consider Christ to be preeminent and loved before the other (1 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 6:33, 10:34-38). If the husband or wife is committed to things or people, other than Christ, the home will be troubled.

PARENTAL COMMITMENT

When children enter the picture, the home should be already faithfully committed to the Lord's work. As head of the house, the father is commanded to nurture his children in the "chastening and admonition of the Lord". The child is taught from birth the importance of doing God's will (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-9). The truly committed family doesn't worry about where they will be on Sunday, Wednesday or during Gospel Meetings. They will gladly enter into the house of the Lord (Psalms 122:1). The watchful parent teaches his children to set God first in all things. "Choose you this day whom ye will serve...as for me and my hosue, we will serve Jeshovah!" (Joshua 24:15)

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ