Commitment Cost

KEY- There is a cost to nearly everything that we do.

If you want to do one thing the cost is not doing something else…

To get a good grade on a project it may cost you moments of entertainment…

If you want to be a good friend it may cost you preference…

If you want to be a talented athlete it may cost you comfort…

Tonight I want to challenge someone to renew your commitment to God!!

My commitment to God can’t be bought out by my preferences… It can’t be bought out by people…

MAIN CHALLENGE- Is there someone tonight who says I want to be fully commited to God no matter what!

Careful before you say yes, because the truth is commitment costs…

Here is a passage of scripture…

Here is the setting…

The Israelites are removed from their home because God allowed the Babylonians to attack Jerusalem and take captive the Israelites…

But God had raised up a remnant…

After about 70-100 years the exiled Israelites are allowed to go back home and are permitted to rebuild their destroyed city; Jerusalem…

(NLT) — 1 On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’ ” 3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” 14 So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, 15 on September 21 of the second year of King Darius’s reign.

Commitment Costs

NOTE- When God’s people returned from exile they initially started rebuilding God’s temple.

I’m so thankful and excited when I see a young person ask Jesus into their lives, and they start building a place for God…

They allow God to lead them - which means changing the plans you had to allow God’s plans to take over.

They listen for his voice when they study his word.

They worship regardless of how they feel.

But then much like the Israelites there are people who allow fear, the enemy, there own desires change their commitment.

1. Commitment Costs Priorities

KEY POINT- The things you prioritize you make room for.

KEY POINT- It’s the person who prioritizes everything that truly prioritizes nothing.

ILLUSTRATION- When you have multiple programs set to record on the dvr, but it only records the prioritized programs.

Prioritizing has just as much to do with what you say yes to as what you say no to. In fact you can’t say yes to God without saying no to this world…

KEY- There is a reason we make a priority list and not a non-priority list… The things on the non-priority list are significantly longer.

When I said yes to Jesus I said no to my ways… When I said yes to Jesus I said no to sin… When I said yes to Jesus I said no to my plans…

(NLT) — 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

POINT- Misguided priorities will pollute the good thing God has for you.

(NLT) — 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

Here in our text we see that the cost of commitment is prioritizing God’s presence over our satisfaction however we also see that the cost of little commitment is destruction!!

You can be here tonight planting away seeds of relationships, but if your priority is not Jesus that relationship will fall apart…

You can be here tonight drinking away all the satisfaction this world can give you, but if your priority is not serving Jesus you will be dying of thirst…

You can be sitting here right now covering yourself in all the luxurious of life, but if Jesus is not your number 1 priority you will find yourself lacking…

You can be wealthy and have everything you need, but if your priority is not serving Jesus you will loose it all!

(NLT) — 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

KEY POINT- There is a cost to commitment and it is your priorities.

2. Commitment Costs purpose

There have been times over the course of my life I have looked back and thought about things that I did… Exciting things… Impressive things… Stupid things…

When I think through all these memories I find myself asking a question often, especially when I think about the stupid things I have done, “Why did I do that???”

ILLUSTRATION-

KEY POINT- Your actions are motivated by purpose.

In everything you do you are leaving clues to your purpose…

ILLUSTRATION- When I was doing some remodeling I would see the work of another worker that I was modifying and I ask this question, a lot, “Why did they do it like that...” and as I investigate sometimes I can find a reason…

If I were to look over the details of your life, if I reviewed your day to day actions I would find subtle clues pointing towards a purpose…

That text message that you sent…

That round about rout you took to get to your next class just so you’d pass a certain someone in the hall…

...

…

(NLT) — 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

QUESTION- Can God dwell in what you built?

CHALLENGE- Commitment to God is going to cost you your purpose, but when you pay it God can now live in it and everything you do will be seen by people and bring honor to God.

(NLT) — 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

3. Commitment Cost Obedience

KEY POINT- Your obedience activates your promise.

ILLUSTRATION- Buying something online but you have to put it together.

KEY- Before I can enjoy the product I have to follow the instructions to put it together. Before you can enjoy the fruits of your commitment you have to be obedient to God’s word for it to come together.

(NLT) — 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord.

POINT- It is the process of obedience where great character is formed.

Some of you have been waiting for new opportunities, God is telling you what you have been calling an obligation I’m calling your opportunity.

CONCLUSION…

KEY POINT- The cost of commitment is nothing close to the cost of lack of commitment.

(NLT) — 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” 14 So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

When we are commited to God we receive far far more than what we pay.

His presence.

His fire.

CHALLENGE- Recommit all that you are here tonight.