Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines Commitment as "the act of committing"; this is not very helpful. But, his definition of committing is helpful in helping us understand a view on what it really means to commit.
Committing: Giving trust or depositing; an act of obligation or obedience.
With this definition in mind, I wish to convey my thoughts on, I believe, a pressing matter. The matter is this: Commitment; commitment will encompass other topics of discussion, but we must start from the beginning. There are two types of commitments: a commitment to the temporal, and a commitment to the eternal. First, I'll talk on the subject of the temporal.
Temporal is defined as this: lasting for a time only; existing or continuing for a limited time.
Things that fit into this category are: emotions/feelings, desires of the flesh, death, worldly possessions and ideologies, and the self. This is important to note because of what a commitment to the temporal can look like.
A commitment to the temporal can be something as simple as saying yes to a proposal to grab fast food with a friend because your emotions and glands are telling you that you're hungry and your friend is fun. It can be as important as a decision to step into a relationship with another person, or our Heavenly Father.
This type of commitment is not bad. In fact, for new believers and new relationships, it is essential. This type of commitment is necessary for us to grow. For example, stepping into a relationship with a member of the opposite sex in a romantic setting can be beneficial. The emotional, physical, and spiritual connection can be a legitimate basis to start a meaningful relationship. It is good to be disciplined in this. Even in a relationship with our Father in heaven. When we have an emotional "camp high" experience, our emotions and spirit are lifted up and cause us to desire something greater, which impacts us enough to make a decision or a commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
The temporal commitment is not bad. But, at the same time, the only problem with the TEMPORAL is that it is TEMPORARY. Emotions and feelings do not last; alas, they are temporary. Although they are beneficial for the moment, they come and go. They cannot be counted on to be constant and not a solid basis for any type of real firm commitment.
At some point, we all reach a point in our relationships and our lives where temporary things will not due; we need to be eternally driven and eternally committed, which is our second point of interest.
Now, we know that the only thing that is eternal is the God-head.
How does this relate to the temporal? I’ll explain.
The temporal, although it shares aspects of the eternal, is not the same and cannot encompass the eternal. However, the eternal, because it is perfect, can encompass aspects of the temporal. What this essentially means is that the temporal is imperfect, weak, and flawed. This is demonstrated easily by our hearts and emotions. The heart, as stated in Jeremiah 17 verse 9 is “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” This constitutes a problem, because, if we make a commitment based on an imperfect thing, by that very reason, it can never be firm as a foundation for a legitimate relationship; it can only be good for a small amount of time. Just as a relationship between a man and a woman, or between humankind and God can be simple at first as to promote growth, it is essentially not enough to produce a fruitful relationship between both parties.
That is where the eternal steps in. The eternal is the perfection of the temporal. The commitment to the eternal is constant. It is perfect. It is never changing. This is a “cut above” or a “holy” choice to make. It is a decision to upgrade or step into a more mature, committed, relationship.
I will illustrate this point in this light: God, because of His commitment to us, was willing to send His son to die a bloody death on the cross for us. He, our loving Father wasn’t always pleased with us; in fact, often times, I’d argue the case that He was angry at times with His people. But He promised us that He would love us all of our days and to not forsake us. He COMMITTED Himself to us and out of that commitment, the feelings of love, anger, joy, and so on were produced (which are temporal, God isn’t eternally angry).
Another way of illustrating this would be in another romantic setting. If I, a man, decided to LOVE a woman, I would be COMMITTING myself to loving that person, regardless of how I felt at times. Emotion would play a part and would flow from that commitment, but it is not the sole purpose of the relationship. It is a constant, perfect, commitment to an eternal aspect: Love.
Commitment to the eternal produces emotions (which are temporal: desirable and undesirable); it has and always will be this way. The commitment to the temporal, however, is subject to change and cannot be counted on to produce constant emotions. The temporal is temporary, and, therefore, cannot be counted on to be constant and perfect.
In order to make a complete and logical flow of what this looks like, I’ve constructed a map of what this looks like.
1. Commitment to Temporal (feelings produce a commitment)
a. feelings/emotions
b. desires/passions
2. Beginnings of a relationship
a. God or another person
Then we come to a crossroads, we either decide to stay in the immature and imperfect realm of temporal commitments, or we step into the eternal commitments
3. Commitment to the Eternal
a. faith
b. hope
c. LOVE (God is love)
4. Emotions flow from the commitment
a. Because I love you, I feel this way…
b. Decisions based on commitment
I will finish my thoughts with this statement.
In most Christians lives, we’ve come to a point where we have had to make a choice: to accept Him, or not. If we have accepted Him, and decided to follow Him then eventually we have to come to another decision: Whether or not we will deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and commit our eternal lives to following a perfect and eternal being. This decision, although daunting, is essential, and, frankly, one that many of us may have passed over.
Many church going people, including myself, have long staying in the uncomfortable confines of a temporal commitment to our eternal God.
We say things like “I loved worship today”, or “I felt close to God today”, and we equate those temporary emotions with the status of our relationship with Him. This is a temporal and futile way of thinking. We cannot, if we wish to have a fruitful relationship with God, linger in the childish ways of the temporal relationship. We must graduate and step into the eternal commitment to God. Out of that commitment, emotion will follow, desirable and not. And even though we may not always be HAPPY or COMFORTABLE in our relationship with Him, we will KNOW in all certainty the “I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine”.
I’ll leave with this scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:9-12
9For(O) we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but(P) when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For(Q) now we see in a mirror dimly, but(R) then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as(S) I have been fully known.
13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I hope this was a blessing to you, Amen.
-Josh
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