Commitment

Luke 9: 57 - 62

...first let me go...

I used to find it difficult to listen to such passages preached. They were usually used to underline the need for commitment to Jesus and used to gently or not so gently 'challenge' people to 'serve'. I used to wonder if I was doing enough to be a committed believer. Thankfully those days are past. I realize that often the 'challenge to serve' comes out of a 'church need' for people in various ministries; out of a real need of course, but without helping people discern well where they are really called.

Surely, Jesus desires full commitment from his followers. He does not want half hearted followers. He makes it difficult for one person by warning about the rigours of life with 'nowhere to rest'. He makes it no easier for another who wants to wait until his father dies, or another who seems to be overly attached to his family. Jesus knew their inner motivations and could challenge them in ways appropriate for them.

We really can't do the same thing across board, as each person comes to the Lord from a different place and with different needs and motivations. Of late, I hear many people who are so tired, with full time jobs, family, and on top of that being involved in a couple of church ministries. What do they do? How can they choose well so as to be 'committed' Christians? I hear people who have hardly enough time for family, for friends (outside church), for rest and recreation (whether physical or spiritual). Are they truly being 'committed', just because they keep church ministries running? Is there a place for seeing all of life as a 'ministry', a place to be a 'committed' believer? Isn't there as much opportunity to 'preach the Gospel' in the office/home/neighborhood just by being a good employee or neighbor?

These are questions we need to deal with more intentionally; to help one another find out what true commitment to Christ means for each one. I am also a seeker in this regard, trying to live in creative tension between my commitments as a wife/mother/friend/sister etc and my specific commitments as a Christian.