New Years is a time in our culture to look back over the past year. Then, based on what we see, make resolutions (resolute commitments) for the year ahead. Beginning a new year in the Lord, provides us a good time to evaluate our commitments to Him and how well we are doing fulfilling them as well.
Commitment is a somewhat forgotten word and concept in the latter part of the 20th century. We live in a society where promises are made and broken in quick succession . . . where we tend to place self and convenience ahead of the needs of another person.
We seem to have developed an extra dose of selfishness and self-centeredness, and that becomes the basis of deciding whether or not we will keep our commitments. Therefore, it could be argued that people are still making commitments, but to all the wrong things. Unfortunately, there is not much difference anymore between those who claim to be Christian and those who don’t. We all fall short of the mark when it comes to making and keeping commitments.
Lewis Smedes, in his book, Caring & Commitment, suggests that if we ever trade in the power to make and keep commitments for the quick fixes of the uncommitted life, we will threaten the whole future of our society as well as that of our own lives. “We cannot survive--we cannot preserve our humanity without making and keeping commitments”.
It may be that you are contemplating going back on a commitment you have made . . .
Commitment is a somewhat forgotten word and concept in the latter part of the 20th century. We live in a society where promises are made and broken in quick succession . . . where we tend to place self and convenience ahead of the needs of another person.
We seem to have developed an extra dose of selfishness and self-centeredness, and that becomes the basis of deciding whether or not we will keep our commitments. Therefore, it could be argued that people are still making commitments, but to all the wrong things. Unfortunately, there is not much difference anymore between those who claim to be Christian and those who don’t. We all fall short of the mark when it comes to making and keeping commitments.
Lewis Smedes, in his book, Caring & Commitment, suggests that if we ever trade in the power to make and keep commitments for the quick fixes of the uncommitted life, we will threaten the whole future of our society as well as that of our own lives. “We cannot survive--we cannot preserve our humanity without making and keeping commitments”.
It may be that you are contemplating going back on a commitment you have made . . .
- It could be as basic as not being there in Church to usher, teach or serve on Sunday morning;
- It could be reneging on a promise to take your son or daughter on a special outing;
- It could be as serious as walking out on your marriage;
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