What Does The Bible Say About Commitment?

All of us have committed ourselves to something, whether it’s something that we delight in or are forced into by circumstance. We have commitments when it comes to marriage, our family, friends, church, other organizations, school, work, or recreational and business transactions. These commitments may be written, oral, manifested in a legal manner, or personal. While we may take some or most of these commitments very lightly, God takes them seriously (Matthew 5:33-37). For instance, when it comes to commitment in marriage, God instituted it, and no man is allowed to sever it, except in the case of marital unfaithfulness (Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.). As part of our commitment to family relations, we are meant to honor our parents (Ephesians 6:1-4). Paul also speaks about our commitment to submit to human authorities and the law of the land, including paying your taxes (1 Peter 2:13-15, Romans 13:1-7), since they are also appointed by God. All of these are examples of the many commitments that God does not want us to take for granted, which is summarized in His second greatest commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

Jesus talks about our greatest commitment and commands us to take it very seriously. It is written in 

Matthew 22:36-37:
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? [37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

The greatest and most important commitment one can enter into is a loving relationship with God. The significance of our earthly life and upcoming eternal life rests on our commitment to a strong relationship with our Creator, Savior, and Lord. We are commanded to commit our everything to loving God, but this commitment is not easy to pursue and keep, and is challenged by many factors. The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23) illustrates the various challenges to our commitment to follow Christ and how different people respond. There is also the example of a rich young man who gave up his chance of committing to a life with Christ before he could even get started (Matthew 19:16-24). It is sad that in many opportunities, we allow our circumstances, worldly desires and concerns to hinder us from fully committing to Christ.

When we follow Christ, that commitment demands a lot from us. He tells us to take up our cross and be willing to give up our lives (Matthew 16:24-28). He warns us that we must be ready to experience persecution; as the world hates Him, it will also hate us (John 15:18-21). He also made it clear that the extent of our commitment to Him should be superior to our commitment to our earthly relationships, even to those with our family. However, even though our journey with God is very demanding, it is also very rewarding (Luke 18:28-30). More than that, God did not just give us “something” when He saved us and reconciled us to Him; He gave “everything” when He gave His one and only Son for our sake (John 3:16). Even though we may become unfaithful in our commitment to follow Christ, He remains faithful and true to us.

(2 Timothy 2:13 KJV)

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

We can find ourselves to be willingly and passionately committed to Christ, because before we can learn to love Him, He first loved us.

(1 John 4:19 KJV)

‘We love him, because he first loved us.”