Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Are You Interested or Committed?

The last week, I have been reading the devotion, 21 Days after Camp. This is the first year I haven't been to a summer camp in almost a decade. My purpose in reading the devotional was to read what our students are reading. My daughter, Mady, has been doing this devotion as well and I wanted to be able to talk with her about what she has been learning. 

In this morning's reading, there was a quote that grabbed my attention. 

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in something you do it when it benefits you and when you have nothing better to do. When you’re committed to something you accept no excuses, only results.” -Kenneth Blanchard

Committed Followers of Jesus...

1. Connect When There's Distractions

There are always distractions in life. From the moment I wake up in the morning, there are emails, social media, phone calls, texts, etc. clamoring for my attention. On the flip side, our society is filled with activities, hobbies and destinations that are appealing. Nothing is wrong with any of that in and of itself. However, when they keep us from connecting with God through prayer and reading/study His word or connecting with others by taking us away from regular church attendance, then it becomes an issue. Interested followers connect when it is convenient. Committed followers connect because they want to be with God and His people. 

2. Love When It is Hard

There are people that are hard to love. They may not look like us, smell like or act like us. They may get on our last nerve and jump up and down on it. The truth is there are probably people we all rub the wrong way too. Interested followers love when it benefits them. Committed people love even the most difficult people. These committed followers are living out the words of Jesus' instruction to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

3. Serve When It is Inconvenient

Last week, several of the men of our church rallied together to help a single mom with trimming some trees. Once we heard of the need, we put together a team quickly. It was the day before a major holiday and several men came out after having worked all day. They are committed! There are times it is inconvenient to serve, but committed people serve when it is inconvenient. The real heroes of our church are the committed followers of Jesus who invest in the next generation every Sunday by serving in our Kids Ministries. These folks volunteer to serve when they could be sitting in the sanctuary being ministered to, but their passion is to invest in the next generation and choose to be committed instead of just interested. 

4. Give When It is Difficult

Luke 21:1–4 (NLT) "While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
This women gave when it was difficult. She was poor and gave her last two coins. Talk about commitment!?! This women had it. She was committed.  

Are you interested or committed? As you evaluate where you are at in your life, ask yourself that question. When you are making decisions and choices whether to connect, love, serve and give, filter it through the lens of interest or commitment.