3,11 Commitment Demonstrated

Commitment—what does it really mean?

Commitment—what does it really mean?

-to the boxer it means getting off the mat 1 time more than being knocked down

-to the marathon runner, running another 10 miles with strength

-to the soldier, going over the hill not knowing what’s waiting

-to the missionary, saying good bye to comforts to help others.

In , we read. “commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass”.

Commit--to roll, roll off, to dedicate or trust entirely to a specific person or cause; to entrust.

Until we “commit” our way unto the Lord, our life is really not much “different” than the worlds way.

-to roll, roll off, to dedicate or trust entirely to a specific person or cause; to entrust. Until we “commit” our way unto the Lord, our life is really not much “different” than the worlds way.

READ

In this passage, let us learn what “Commitment” really looks like—

Commitment and Personality-Vs17

-courageous—he is a ruler(according to Luke), and rulers were trying to sabotage Jesus, trying to trip Him. But, not this man—he came in broad daylight wanting help.

-spontaneous-he “came running up to him”- imagine a ruler running to Jesus

-humbled- “knelt down”—he lost focus on who he was for the time bing and knelt before Jesus.

-open- he was open and transparent with Jesus—“Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? One who should have had the answers comes to Jesus to find the answers.

Personality does not equate commitment.

Commitment and Needs

What do you think this man needed?

Sometimes our view of commitment will lead us to be just like the Rich Young Ruler.

We find all the right words to speak toward God—Good, Master, eternal life—.

What was his “deepest need”? What is our deepest need? Jesus knew what the need was, so He went right to the heart.

READ vs18-19—Jesus sees what others cannot see! Its not our dress, fixed smiles, our homes—He knows whether we recognize our “deepest need”—To be committed to Him.

There is none good, but one, that is God! You know the commandments!

Commitment and Immaturity-vs20

After Jesus confronts him with knowledge about the commandments- adultery, kill,steal, bear false witness, defrauding his neighbor, honoring father and mother-NOTE his response.

“Master, all these have I observed from my youth”-What immaturity on his behalf.

He basically told Jesus that his record of obedience was unblemished.

He had kept (guarded) the commandments from his youth. This response was proof positive that he didn’t understand his sinfulness.

Rather than living a life of commitment, he is deceived and self-righteous.

We are immature if we think that we are “without sin”—even one sin will disqualify a person from measuring up to God’s law.

Commitment and Frustration-vs21

In spite of this man’s self-righteous blindness, Jesus loved Him enough to speak truth to him. Jesus told him, “One thing thou lackest”-

Frustration becomes apparent when we are faced with the reality that we don’t have it altogether!

Amazingly, we can think that we are living a life of “commitment” and yet be “lacking”—this will produce frustrations that we have to deal with.

He didn’t come with a sense of guilt—he thought he had his act together—but he knew something wasn’t right! He was FRUSTRATED!

Are YOU? you sense that you are doing what needs to be done—going to church; read the Bible; pray; share; etc—going through the motions!

In reality—you are frustrated and empty!

Commitment and Independence-Vs21

Interestingly, in vs 17 we read—“what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life”?

The ruler had an I problem.

His goal was to “DO” something so that he could be satisfied.

-When we are faced with our view of “commitment”, we often look at what WE are able to accomplish. We are never and will never be Independent of God.

Thus far, do you see any connection between Commitment and Personality/Needs/Immaturity/Frustration and Independence.

Do you and the Rich Young Ruler have any commonalities?

-Rather,

—- Personality and Needs raised to a unhealthy level. We have unhealthy cliques, people are stuck on themselves.

—We have fostered a culture of Immaturity—just take a Bible lesson survey. Ask where are the 10 Commandments located? List the 10 Commandments.

Or, you may even ask, “When is the last time you led someone to the Lord?”

We are immature which leads to

—Frustration- we have churches full of frustrated people—frustrated in relationships, finances, jobs, etc.

—Independence

We have talked all around Commitment today because that is what the focal character of this passage did—skirted COMMITMENT.

This is what SIN is all about! In the heart of every sinner is a tendency to exchange worship and service of the Creator for worship and service of the created thing.

All human beings are worshippers; the issue is only what or whom we worship! Idolatry gives the worship that belongs to God to some aspect of his creation.

In Vs 21 Jesus tells him—“go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross and follow me”.

GO SELL!

COME AND FOLLOW!

He had probably never heard these words spoken to him before. I am almost assured that he had never heard this before—upon hearing those words, “he was sad, went away grieved, for he had great possessions”.

Commitment==roll over onto—dedicate totally.

Levels of Commitment

-TOP LEVEL—God controls me and my possessions

-MIDDLE LEVEL- I control my possessions—I am disciplined

-BOTTOM LEVEL—My possessions control me.

not simply to a holy lifestyle or a set or moral values!

not simply to a holy lifestyle or a set or moral values!

Our commitment to holiness is a commitment to God, not our self-esteem.

How is your COMMITMENT being DEMONSTRATED?

Christ is calling us to a:

Commitment that leads to the Cross.

we must stop looking at modern culture/modern church and begin to look back at the REAL JESUS.

Commitment centered on Christ in all His glory.

Commitment based on humble faith in God!

we must stop looking at modern culture/modern church and begin to look back at the REAL JESUS.

What did He demand—Take up the cross and follow me!!

Vs26- “Who then can be saved?”- the word of Jesus comes to the disciples just as it did to the young ruler—NOT as a comfort, but as an OFFENSE. It surpasses human possibility. The disciples were inadequate in and of themselves.

We too are INADEQUATE in ourselves.

Vs27-This is possible only through God! We can not add anything to COMMITMENT!

Nothing but total commitment of our lives to God makes any sense!

Nothing but total commitment of our lives to God makes any sense!

Is your Commitment being demonstrated?

It will be demonstrated once we ABANDON our confidence in ourselves, this world, and receive the supernatural gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

What IF is standing in your way today?