So far in this series we have considered three words that have almost disappeared from the modern church’s vocabulary: Sin, hell, and repentance. Commitment is still another word that is seldom heard. Jesus had much to say about the matter of commitment, most of which is seldom spoken of in many modern churches.

The following is just a sampling of some of the statements Jesus made concerning the commitment He expected from His followers:

Now it happened as they traveled on the road, that someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’

Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’

And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Luke 9: 57-62, NKJV

Those statements are some of the clearest assertions on the matter of true, sincere discipleship – discipleship that literally costs the committed follower of Christ everything. All other commitments and relationships pale in significance when compared to the disciple’s commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even the most intimate of relationships. Read carefully these biting words of the Lord:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot by My disciple.

Luke 14:26-27

All of these quotes drive home the importance of the believer’s commitment to the Lord. Can you imagine how these words cut straight into the hearts of those listening as Jesus spoke to them? Were they – are we – to take these admonitions seriously? Understand them literally?

We could spend a great deal of time delving into each of the four examples cited above, but what I want us to do is simply think about the commitment it would take to obey them. Jesus offers no promises about the future of the individual disciples to whom He spoke. He simply wanted them to know that to be His disciple would literally cost them everything.

The demands of commitment to the Lord seem almost impossible, especially when we think of them in light of our contemporary cultural climate that very seldom calls for this kind of commitment. We have throw-away relationships, throw-away careers, throw-away business interests, throw-away, well, you name it. Pretty much everything is throw-away these days.

And so it is in the church. Too many, it seems, have a consumer mentality when it comes to church. What can I expect out of that church if I join? What do they have to offer that the church down the street doesn’t? We look for what we can get rather than what we can give. Our desire should be to commit to be a part of a local faith family in which we can use our gifts and talents in service and ministry to others. But instead, many look at so differently, so selfishly. It’s all driven by a “me-mentality.”

We need to understand the far-reaching ramifications of the demands of the Lord in His shocking statements quoted above. Don’t look for a church where commitment is never mentioned, but look for one that places a high premium on leading the members to understand each person’s important role in the ministry of that particular faith family, and for the greater purpose of glorifying God in all we do.

Until next time:

Blessings!