Commitment Vs. Convenience

“Serving Jesus, Is It A Commitment or A Convenience?”

(Matt 19:16; 21-24)

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Many today do not want to be totally committed to the Lord because it demands too much of them. Let’s be honest here, commitment is sometimes something for someone else to do because it interferes with our schedules.

Webster’s - Commitment - to pledge to some particular course or use

Commitment to Jesus is more than a definition -- it requires my life, my soul, my very being inside of me! Not twice a week, or even once a week, but all the time!

Just look at the cross … Jesus was committed to you ALL THE WAY.

Many are not committed to the things of God but they live a life of what is CONVENIENT in God. A clear example of this lifestyle is this: “I go to church on Sunday morning, isn’t that enough?”

Webster’s - Convenient - suited to one’s comfort or ease.

Are we living a life for Jesus that is suited to our comfort? Do we want to be committed as long at it is easy? What if Jesus decided not to die for our sins … where would we spend eternity today?

I want us to look at being Totally Committed to God - It is for us every part of our lives versus living a life of Convenience for our own comfort.

Pray

1. The convenience of the self serving

Plain and simple: the self serving focus on themselves rather than focusing on God

Verse 16 - We see someone asking Jesus what they need to do to inherit eternal life.

Self serving have to give up something to follow God

Verse 21 - If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, then come follow me”

Many today have an uncommitted focus on keeping their stuff rather than giving:

Verse 22 - “give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven... When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

But you see we are not talking about money only here. Being committed can be anything that has to do with giving of your time, energy, and possessions for God. Many of us have idols in our lives that are not just money.

Maybe it is work, maybe it is golfing, and maybe it whatever else you can think of. Jesus is telling this man, and us, to get rid of such things in our lives and focus on serving the Lord – following him unconditionally.

Mark 8:36,37 says, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

So, the young rich ruler wanted to follow Christ, BUT he wanted it to be convenient.

How about you and me? Do any these things hit close to home?

This young man was looking for a better method to get what he wanted rather than wanting God to make him a better man.

Are you looking for an escape route? Do you look for the easy road to Christianity as long as it does not ruffle your feathers?

Are we looking to get what we want out of convenience rather than wanting God to make us a better Christian?

Get this: I want to encourage you and tell you that God does not give up on the self serving, no matter what the situation or what you have done in the past. God allows a u-turn, and today you can make that u-turn in your life.

2. Your actions speak louder than your words!

Have you ever asked yourself: “Whose job is it to serve God?” (This is gut check time.)

Have you ever answered yourself by saying, “Well, it is the pastor’s job. He’ll take care of it because we pay him to do it.”

I want to tell you today that giving that answer is a lie you are telling yourself. Allow me to show you directly from scripture about serving the Lord.

First, what is the Bible for?

2 Tim 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We are instructed to all work for the Lord!

Second, what is the work to be done?

Matthew 28:19 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

We should preach the Gospel to ALL!

Finally, who should serve the Lord?

Joshua 24:15 says “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”