“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.”
2 weeks ago we had a meeting here for Vacation Bible School. Approximately 17 people attended the meeting, and from that 5 people volunteered to assist, and 2 more said they would help but did not want to be in charge of anything. I want to ask a fair question.
Why go to the meeting if you are not willing to volunteer to serve or volunteer?
I am sorry, but I was pretty crushed by that, and I do not think God was pleased either because His word tells us to serve, period. Serving for God means giving of you, unselfishly and not expecting anything in return – that is servitude.
Being committed to serving ought to the number 1 job of church members. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, and God is watching both actions and words. While we are still here, we have an opportunity to continue serving the Lord so that He would be pleased with us.
I want to tell you something. You are not dead, so your service to God is not over.
3. Here is how to have a total commitment to serving God (Application)
Turn to Matt 10:35-39
Do you want to be totally committed to the things of God?
The committed focus on a relationship with Christ rather than other things!
(Matt 10:35-36) “For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”
The committed focus on denying themselves and following Christ rather than living and loving themselves
(Matt 10:38) “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
Committed focus on Discovering the Source of Life rather than being self serving
(Matt 10:39) “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
The life of the committed shine for Jesus!
What then should we be committed to?
2a. Committed to God (Matt 22:37) Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
2b. Committed to Christ (John 14:15) "If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
2c. Committed to Church (Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
We ought to be committed to the things of the church!
It is Convenient to only come on Sunday morning!
Be on time: Sunday school, Worship, & Wednesday night!
Commitment means to serve no matter what, no matter when.
Life happens - things get in the way - but the Lord will never give us more than we can handle.
We should be committed together for what is true according to God’s Word
Proverbs 27:17 says that “iron sharpens iron”! This means that there is strength in numbers! We ought to come together to accomplish tasks.
It used to be said in churches that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. I believe that number is worse now - something like 10% of the people does 90% of the work.
It is sad to think of the how many are just worn out and have given up on serving in our churches today - and those who are working keep thinking that someday, there will be help.
CONCLUSION
Are you totally committed to God in every area of your life or are you conveniently committed to Him for the sake of your comfort or ease?
Jesus desires of us total commitment -- He set the level of commitment we should strive for, He was committed to dying for our sins before we were even thought of.
Luke 23:46 says, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
JESUS HAD A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO US!
How about us? Are we willing to be totally committed to God or do we continue to live in the realm of Christian Convenience?
Story of Farmer … Cow, Chicken, & Pig Breakfast:
The farm animals were so appreciative of the farmer and all he had done to take care of them. They decided to show their appreciation: The chicken would give the best eggs only for the farmer’s breakfast. The cow would eat the best grass and leaves to produce the best milk for his breakfast. But, the pig had to give it all, his sacrifice was worth his life to show how much he loved the farmer.
Leave you with a final thought:
“The Most He could do is die for us … The least we can do is live for Him!”
PRAY
* Sermon adapted from a sermon given by Rev Jimmy Dillon (circa 2002/2003).
