Commitment in Today's World

             I know I usually do a sermon entry on Sundays but this entry idea came from my morning small group today at church, not the sermon. It might have some ideas from the sermon but not all of it.
           "We ask you to commit to a church membership for 4 reasons and this is one of them. One of the reasons is the cultural reason. Church membership is an antidote to our society."

             Why is it an antidote to our society, you might ask.
             Commitment and Contentment is a hard thing to do in today's society.

           
             Commitment is a trait that America is losing through everything. We are losing it because people are not trying to be content with what they have anymore. People can have head knowledge and not heart knowledge. Head knowledge is a lot more popular these days. No one wants to get down to heart knowledge because it is way too personal. No one has deep rooted convictions anymore. It only goes through the head and out the mouth. We say it but we really don't feel it because we don't take the time to feel it. I know this is strange but it is true. I see it in people even the people that I really care about at times. They will say it but will they really do it or are they trying to cover up their true feelings with the busyness of this world.
               We think about losing or be less committed to jobs and churches then we do relationships but even these days relationships are with the less committed. There are more divorces because people are not wanting to commit to fixing things when they go wrong. If someone doesn't like a job or when they find out how to work the job, they move on to another job. When a church is not up to their standards, they go church hopping and try to find one that pleases them. Then about relationships, no one wants to commit because there are so many more options out there or they just want to have the fun that comes with it and not the responsibility.
               As a nation, we are losing the art of commitment, we are going so worked up over the little things and so busy with the non essentials, that we are forgetting why God made us the way He did. God made us for relationships and commitment. That is one way people can tell that we are following God. If we are committed to the things we do, good or bad. The problem is our stubborn Will gets in the way when we are trying to do the right thing. This whole concept is new to me and I am still thinking and learning about it too. I mean take a look at our children these days too. Sadly, we are not committed to making them the best that they can be either because we are worried about making the money or reaching the top job. We would rather have them take meds. then really work and spend time with them.
               We let our stubborn thoughts get in our heads and think we can do everything and anything when really we can't. I will say that at times committing to something is hard. I'm going through a situation now that I want to give up because I have messed up and there is no way things can get fixed but I am not the one to fix it or even try. God will fix it when and if He wants it fix. I have tried to push myself on so many people when I just need to stand back and need to commit to knowing them and who they truly are. I need to get to know their True Spirit because that is the True person. People will take the time to get to know the outside person but they won't commit to getting to know the person's spirit and their deep rooted convictions.
               Getting in and on that level with a person is a scary thought because it is a kind of commitment. I mean just friends do it, right? If you have a really close friend. You have to share your ups and downs, your dreams, your beliefs, your family, and so on and so forth. Yet, at the same time, it is scary to stick with and get on that level with a job or church because you don't know everything. You might get bored with it for a few months or years.You don't know and probably won't like everything that is going on but if you are true to that person, place, or situation then you will be rewarded for it in some way. Might not be the way you want and might not even be right away but God will reward you for sticking with it.
             I will even say that my pastor used the picture of a family when he was talking about this today in class. He said, "It makes sense when we call each other brother and sister in the church because it is like one big family under God." And it is. That is why we look for the good in people, places, and even jobs. We know there is good in everything. We just have to look for it. We look for the good in those things so we can keep going. Yes, you might have a bad day at work or with your spouse but that is when you remember the reason you started working there or the good things your spouse has done for you in the past.
            In today's fast pace world, people don't take the time to sit and talk, they just call or text or email. They have everything at their fingertips and they want it like that in every part of life. I am sorry to say that you can't have that in every part of life, especially when it involves people because that is not how our God made His People. That is not a trait of our God and when I say "that" I mean being fast paced and just passing through. Our God's trait is wanting that relationship, wanting to get deep with the people He loves so much that He would die for us. 


Remember this saying: "Our God's trait is relational, not unavailable/instant (for lack of better words)."