Men’s Dock in Retreat – A Quest for Commitment - April 12-3, 2013

Men’s Dock in Retreat – April 12-3, 2013

Men’s Retreat Theme and Friday Night Study Title - A Quest for Commitment

Read John 8:28-31

Explain setting for this passage

V. 28 Jesus mentioned something that got the attention of those present that day that changed their opinion of Him turning their doubt to belief. But, Jesus although acknowledging their belief which appeared to be, and probably was genuine, questioned the depth of their commitment to Him telling them that He would know that their commitment was truly real if they would continue in His teachings making His teachings a lifestyle and part of their life.

Read Jn. 15:1-10a.

In this passage of Scripture we find Jesus having a frank and honest talk with His disciples. If you were to think about it this was an intimate moment. I am a big believer in the right time and the right setting as much as possible when trying to convey important truths especially spiritual truths to those you love and I often wonder what the setting was or surroundings were and what events occurred that preceded this teachable moment found here in John 15. (might ask for opinions explaining the possible setting)

But, here in this passage in John 15 Jesus talks intimately with His disciples about commitment. In reality, if you were to look at Jesus’ method of teaching and discipleship you could sum up His method by saying that in essence if you were to divide the process or journey with Him into steps you might notice that each phase or step of His teaching was actually a call to go deeper, calling His disciples to a deeper commitment to His teachings and a deeper commitment to Him.

If you were to think about it isn’t this what any relationship is all about? It is not just time spent together, but time spent together in relationship. One that calls those involved in that fellowship or relationship to a deeper commitment and trust for and in each other.

As Jesus called His disciples toward a deeper commitment He also met them personally in a deeper relationship which included fellowship. We see that here later in this chapter, chapter 15, making it clear that they are no longer called servants, but wanted them to know His feelings for them making it clear to them that He actually called them friends. Jn. 15:15-7

One of the clear messages in Scripture is commitment. One might ask how committed are we, and a follow up question could be to what?? It appears that one of the characteristics of modern day man is the commitment to being uncommitted. Not only is our commitment to Christ often more superficial, but our commitment to each other and to the responsibilities of life are also not too solid or firm. It seems that we would be willing to break a commitment at a moment’s notice for not much of an excuse at all.

Well it is time for us as guys to get real and give a straightforward answer to this area of our life. How committed are you to this thing that Christ offered to you about following Him having a true focus on eternal life. One of the things that I want to ask you is ‘How committed to Him and His call are you?’ You don’t need to answer that right here out loud to this group tonight, but I think that it is a question worth asking yourself honestly preferably at some point tonight being honest keeping it between you and God. Jesus in John 8:31 asked this same question to those who most believe had truly taken a big step toward Jesus.

In Luke’s Gospel in chapter 9 we find some other examples of Jesus’ teachings on discipleship as He attempted to call those He was talking with to take a step, a large step and a strong one, toward commitment to His cause and His message. He gives us some examples of what type of commitment He was looking for. Read Lk. 9: 57-62 and ask what do you think about the level of commitment asked for here in these verses? Read v. 61-2 and comment on them. Jesus here makes it clear that He wants us focused on the Kingdom before us and not on the world around us or behind.

Jesus is calling us to a more meaningful and purposeful commitment to the things that are important in our life. It is true that first and foremost He is calling us to commit ourselves to our relationship with Him. He tells us that this relationship of commitment will be tested by how we are committed to His ways not in a legalistic way, but in a relational way, where we can be trusted with a mission and/or a task.

But, I think that He is calling us to a deeper commitment also to other things in our lives, to each other, to our spouses if we have one, our children and to our work and the people that we are involved with in life on a regular basis. One way our commitment to them will be tested is if we are committed enough to carry the Gospel to them and intentionally share it with them giving them opportunity to commit themselves to Christ also.

God is calling us as men and especially as Christian men to be more committed to Him and to the things in our life in a real way. But, what does that look like? At first glance and encounter one might say, ‘Oh, no, not another thing to do’. But, the type of commitment that Jesus is referring to is freeing not burdensome. We must be careful not to think that the commitment that He is referring to means that we should be committed to everything that we might consider a good cause expecting to be able to ‘do it all!’ In doing so we are setting ourselves up for failure. He is not calling us to this.

His call to us is not one of additional commitments, but one of reprioritization and focus letting go of the many commitments that have no real (lasting) value replacing them with tasks that are much more in our league and have greater heavenly and earthly value. We must prioritize those things in our lives committing ourselves fully to the things that we know are given to us by God to commit to. No more. No less. This is not always easy.

The question of whether or not we commit to do something or not should not be whether we can fit it into our schedule or not, but instead ‘does this fit into what God is doing and where He is taking me in life’. In other words, asking is this what He has given me to do? In doing so our life will become clearer to us and to those around us, clearly seeing what God is doing with us instead of the hectic busy activity that has no clarity or apparent purpose to those around us in turn having little impact upon them toward God.

We must also, however, let people know of our inability to be committed to their thing when what they are asking is not something that God wants us to be involved in. In other words, our lives need to be clearer to God, to ourselves and to those around us that those around us may clearly see what God is doing in our lives.

Lk. 9:62 tells us to look down the row that you are hoeing having your eye and focus on the end of the row and aiming for it. When you are looking straight ahead your peripheral vision comes into play. Your peripheral vision is given to you to make you aware of things that you may potentially need to deal with in life as you travel. Some guys in applying these concepts can make the mistake of putting blinders on becoming blind to everything except their destination. I think that this is a mistake. There are other things in life that need to be dealt with as you are traveling to reach your goal.

By focusing on and committing to what God has for you and your family specifically to do your choices become easier. When presented with an option or task to perform before you are asked you should already have an inclination as to whether or not God might be in what is set before you. It is prideful to think that every good cause or endeavor is for us to do.

It is true that we should not turn a deaf ear to real needs or concerns that come our way. Sometimes demands that are placed before us have a way of getting our attention and it is true that God may indeed be in them. But, we must go to God and seek His guidance for His will concerning our commitment and involvement or level of involvement for even noble causes. Some things are simply not meant for us in this life and may be a task meant for someone else. Taking on every good cause that comes our way dramatically lessons our ability to do the tasks that God has given us to do being unable to do them well. When over committed many of the tasks that are given to us from God in the end are either not done well, are left incomplete or do not get done at all also not receiving His blessing that goes along with being obedient.

James 1:8 tells us that a double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. Being over committed, as well as, not being fully committed to those things that God has given to us to do causes instability in our life and in the life of our families. Many a home has been wrecked by over commitment. It is also true that not being fully committed to those things that God gives us as our responsibility to do can be just as damaging. In our day we see the need to be fully committed to those things that God truly is in in our lives and yet be less committed to those things that do not ultimately come from God. In doing so we will see the focus in our lives and what we should be doing clear up making it easier to be confident in knowing what God is calling us to do. In doing so others will also clearly see that God truly is at work in our lives and may start asking questions wanting to know how they can know God’s will for their life and do the same.