Giving Up, Filling Up

Outline:

Commitment begins with a Decision

Commitment continues with Actions

Commitment is complete with Resolve

Introduction:

Funny Illustration

Robert Turner told a story about a hen and a pig who became very good friends. One seldom saw them apart. One day as they strolled about the barnyard lot, the hen suggested that since they had never eaten breakfast together, that they do that the next morning. Never being one to turn down a meal, the pig readily agreed and asked, “What will we eat?”

The hen stood in deep thought for a while, then said, “It appears to me that if each of us contributes something to the meal it will be more meaningful to each of us.” “Fine,” said the pig, “and what do you suggest?”

Again, the hen stood as if in deep thought for a while and then said, “I have an idea, let’s have ham and eggs. I’ll provide the eggs and you the ham.” “Hold on,” said the pig, “What you offer to contribute is the fruit of your labor, but what you’re asking of me requires total commitment!”

From sermon central

That pig knew the price of total commitment. It can be described as a living sacrifice, or a constant dying out of our desires in order to follow our Lord

Here in our Bible Story we see that type of commitment in a non Israelite named Ruth. As I read the text, see if anyone can tell me where they might have heard this scripture read before

Ruth 1:16-18 (New International Version)

16 But Ruth replied, "Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

ANSWER: a traditional marriage ceremony

Purpose

Today I want to look at Ruth’s commitment to go with her mother-in-law that can help us in learning how to better commit to God

Commitment begins with a Decision

Ruth tells her mother-in-law that I WILL go with you.

The days in which Ruth lived were called the time of the judges of Israel, and this was a time of good-ole-fashioned-Charlie-Brown-wishy-washy commitment. As you read through this Biblical history found in the book of Judges you will find a cycle of the people of God sinning, crying out to God, being saved by God, but then sinning again.

In constrast to this time of roller coaster commitment, when every one did what was right in their own eyes, this book is a breath of fresh air as we find one, who did not know God, desire to have Him as her God.

The days that Ruth lived in sound like today!

Illustration:

Recently, the media reported on a well known Christian pastor, Ted Haggard, who allegedy committed the sin of homosexuality. It was hurtful to read this. It was only a few short years before this that I read one of his books, How to keep your City from going to Hell. I was motivated by it, but now this. This calls to mind one to many Christians who got sidetracked BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO STEP ASIDE FROM THAT DECISION TO FOLLOW CHRIST

Your commitment today my friend to follow Christ though it be a matter of DECISION, must be birthed in your spirit, and honed through humility. You must let God have His way with you 100% or you too will be written up as another casualty of the Christian faith.

When others look at you, Christian, do they see one who is committed to maturing in Christ, or one who is just giving their offerings, their leftovers.?

Illustration

While driving back from my parents, I listened to a Christian Radio talk show. One of the guests described the relationship between faith and life. He told how the nominal Christians life was represented as a circle, with their faith being represented as a dot in the center of that circle. Then he told of another group, the terrorists, whose faith is seen as the circle, and their lives as that dot. Thus them giving up their lives is insignificant.

What is the purpose of your life, Christian? Is your commitment to Christ akin to that pig donating that ham or that hen giving up the egg.

Commitment continues with Actions

Illustration

When I was in elementary school, my friends and I loved to pretend to be super heroes. We dressed up in our customs, and pretended to fly around and beat up bad guys. But you know something, in all of my pretending, never once did I actually fly. Never once did I move faster than a speeding locomotive, or stop a bullet with my bare hands.