Commitment To One Another

INTRO.- Often, our priorities in life are mixed up. I recently saw a carton on the internet, showing a woman crawling on her hands and knees in the desert. The sun was broiling her. There were two roads. One turned to the right, stating, “Fresh water only ¼ mile.” The road to the left had a sign, stating, “One-half price sale only 2 and ¼ miles.” GUESS WHICH ROAD SHE TOOK??

Our first priority and commitment in life is to the Lord who created us, sustains us and saves us. Without Him we would not be here! Simply put. Strongly meant. There is no life apart from God. He is the giver of life!

When we leave this world and step into eternity we all will be shocked and probably embarrassed over our lack of commitment to the Lord while we lived in this world. Only when we face our living, loving, gracious Creator will we truly understand where we failed in this life. But our shame and humiliation will be erased by His grace.

Our second priority and commitment in life is to people. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Or “love your neighbor like you would love yourself.” Take care of your neighbor, etc.

ILL.- POINT REYES, Calif. – Did you hear about that husband-and-wife team that reached the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, Oct. 15th, after a 4,900-mile cross-country hike, becoming the first to backpack the transcontinental American Discovery Trail in one continuous trek.?

Marcia and Ken Powers started Feb. 27 at Cape Henlopen in Delaware. Nearly eight months later, they looked out over the Pacific Ocean at Point Reyes. “We feel great. We’re done,” Marcia Powers said after reaching the ocean late Saturday afternoon, a day ahead of schedule. “We are a little bit sad that a great adventure is over. It was a fantastic adventure.”

The couple from Pleasanton, Calif., traversed cities, desert, mountains and farmland as they crossed 13 states while averaging 22 miles a day and taking only four days off.

Brothers and sisters, I’m glad that Marcia and Ken Powers enjoyed their 4,900 mile-walk and set a record. But I thought to myself: life is not just about us! It is not just about what we do in life or what we accomplish in life. LIFE IS ABOUT MINISTERING TO OTHERS!

Look at the life of Jesus! Around what did He focus His life? Ministering to people! His first priority was pleasing His heavenly Father, which He did. His second focus in life was ministering to people, seeking and saving the lost, etc. AND SO SHOULD OURS BE.

PROP.- Let’s think about our commitment to people and what we can do to minister to one another. We can and must support one another in various ways. 1- Prayer support 2- Physical support 3- Emotional support

I. PRAYER SUPPORT

ILL.- HURRICANE, W.Va. — With $340 million up for grabs it was the second-biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, people trekked to a small-town West Virginia convenience store to buy their tickets Tuesday, Oct. 18th in the apparent belief that lightning can strike twice in the same place.

Nearly three years ago, it was the C&L Super Serve in Hurricane that sold the ticket that made West Virginia contractor Jack Whittaker the winner of the nation’s biggest undivided jackpot: $314.9 million in the multi-state Powerball lottery.

Twenty-seven states offer Powerball, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Edward Jarvis, a 39-year-old real estate agent, drove from New York’s Long Island to Greenwich, Conn., to buy $120 worth of tickets.

"That’s worth an hour or two out of your day," he said. "It’s cheaper than going to Atlantic City for a heck of a lot better return if you win."

BETTER RETURN FOR YOUR MONEY. I thought, ‘gambling never gives you a better return for your money.’ Few there are who win. By the way, that man didn’t get a better return for his money after all. The winning ticket was not sold in Conn, but rather in Oregon. He just lost $120 and several hours of driving with expensive gas.

Brothers and sisters, I’ll tell you where you can get a better return for your money than betting on the lottery! It’s when we invest ourselves in people through prayer!

II Cor. 1:10-11 “He (the Lord ) has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

Whenever we help one another in prayer we get “more bang for our buck.” Praying for one another is probably one of the best things we can do for one another or one of the most beneficial!