July 8, 2007

Attitude Adjustments: Commitment

Advance and Conquer

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Opening Words: Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” He knew what we often forget, our attitudes about life are extremely important. They affect the way that we experience life. It is for this reason that I have decided to dedicate this section of the year to examining our attitudes. I have called this fourteen week sermon series, Attitude Adjustments. Today, we look at our attitude about patriotism. Do you consider yourself a patriotic person? Let me call this morning’s message Advance and Conquer.

2 Timothy 2:1-7 1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Historians tell us Aulus Plautius lead the Roman invasion of Britain in the year 43. He knew they had the ability and the resources needed for victory. However, one thing concerned him. His soldiers lacked the commitment and the passion needed to conquer this new land. So he took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture. Ordering his men to march to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below. To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Plautius had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer! And that is exactly what they did. That ancient Roman knew the importance of being committed.

Our good friend Webster defines commitment as, “an agreement or pledge to do something in the future.” Did you hear that definition? Commitment has much more to do wit the future then it has to do with the present. A commitment is something that you promised yesterday that will effect your future actions. In the story of the Roman legion the general questioned his soldiers’ commitment. They promised in the past to win Britain for Roman. However, their general knew they lacked the required devotional to see that promise come to reality. This is my question for you. How many commitments have you made in the past that will affect your future?

Every aspect of your life has been influenced by the commitments you made in the past. Let me just list a few. Marriage is a commitment. You stood in front of your whole world and promised to keep that person for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health. You promised to be faithful. How are you doing with that commitment in your life? Marriage is a commitment.

Baptism is a commitment. You brought that little bundle of joy into this world and you stood in front of the church. You promised to raise him or her in the Christian faith. That sounds simple but it is really quite complex. In front of God and the congregation you promised to bring them to church, teach them the scriptures and be a Christian model for their young eyes? As a parent you have a greater influence on their lives then anyone else. How are you doing with that commitment in your life? Baptism is a commitment.

Our financial world is based on commitments. When you bought that home you entered into a commitment. Your mortgage may last for decades but you promised to pay it back. On that magic date every month you promised to pay a small part of the grand total back, plus interest. Every time you purchase something with a credit card and sign your name on the line you enter a new commitment. Your future dreams of retirement are based on commitment. Do you believe your company is handling your retirement money wisely? Do you believe you will get out of Social Security what you have paid into Social Security? Do you believe your company or Social Security is commitment to you?

The problem is our world has devalued the importance of commitment. Many are more concerned with themselves and the present then they are others and the future. The theme of past generations was “you are only as good as your word!” The theme for this generation is “take care of yourself!” There is a world of difference. Our devaluation of commitment has changed our individual lives. It is not only true in the major issues of life. Sometimes it is in life’s extras.

The devaluation of commitment changed my Autumn Sunday afternoons. Until 1995 my Sunday afternoons were dominated by the Cleveland Browns. We were committed to the Browns. In the face of decades of losing and bad football, we were committed to the Browns. Every year we believed that was the year. We defended the Browns for every bad move. We paid large amounts of money for the hats, shirts and the tickets. We gave them our hearts. We were passionate about the Browns and we were committed, then it happened. The most hated man in the history of Cleveland owner Art Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore. He said the reason was the stadium, a stadium that the City of Cleveland gave to him in over twenty years earlier. The real reason he moved the Browns to Baltimore was jealousy and impatience. The Indians got a new stadium first. He had to wait. Let me say this clearly. We were committed to the Browns but they were not committed to us. It was on that day in 1995 that everything changed. It will never be the same. We were sold out for a quick profit. I really don’t are anymore. My wife says I am a disillusioned Brown’s fan. The decades of losing and the hopeless have taken its toll. Maybe she is right. But, maybe I am right. The Browns leaving Cleveland are a sign of the times. We have devalued commitment. (As a side note, let me say this. In 1996, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reported that the Rooney family said the Steelers would have to leave the city of Pittsburgh if they didn’t get a new stadium. They got you. The Steelers play in a wonderful new stadium at no cost to them. How committed are they to you?) We live in a time when commitment is devalued.

Religious researcher George Barna in 1990 announced some of his findings in a book called The Frog in the Kettle. He sites eight signs of reduced commitment in America. These eight are seventeen years old but they are still true today.

1. The divorce rate is climbing: half of all new marriages end in divorce.

2. Adults feel that they have fewer close friends than did adults in past decades.

3. Brand loyalty in consumer purchasing studies has dropped in most product categories, and by as much as 60% in some categories.

4. The proportion of people willing to join an organization is declining in relation to churches, labor unions, political parties, clubs and community associations.

5. Book clubs and record clubs are less likely to attract new members when multiple year or multi-product commitments were required.

6. The percentage of adults who sense a duty to fight for their country, regardless of the cause, has dropped.

7. The percentage of people who commit to attend events but fail to show is on the rise.

8. Today’s parents are less likely to believe that it is important to remain in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the children than they were 20 years ago.

So what does all this mean to us and our discipleship? Take three steps with me. This is the first step. In the opening story an ancient Roman commander stood before his men and questioned their commitment. They had the needed supplies to advance and conquer but they lacked motivation. This is the second step. In the scripture lesson for this morning Paul is facing the same issue. The greatest evangelist is near the end of his life. His writes this letter to a young preacher, the next generation of leadership. He is a gifted young man, who lacks nothing but commitment! That is what he is saying in verse one, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul knows the value of commitment. Are you ready for step three? In the final step we are the soldiers. On the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we entered into a commitment. Your sins are forgiven and you are going to heaven when your days are done in this world. Jesus is committed to you! Your part of the commitment was that you were going to make a difference for Jesus in this world. You were going to win some souls for Jesus in this world. Our problem is not a lack of gifts and ability. We are full of potential. Our problem is a lack of commitment. We are a product of our age. So my words for you this morning are the same words that Paul had for Timothy in the year 45 AD, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The Master expects us to advance and conquer this word for him.

So this morning let me give you soldiers of the cross three guidelines. They are brief but I believe they are timely. If you really want to advance and conquer this world for Jesus then never forget them. So if you are ready say, “Amen!”

Involvement is not commitment.

Guideline number one is commitment is not involvement. Luciano Pavarotti tells the story about how he made the choice to be a singer. At a young age his father introduced him to singing and he took to it with great skill and enthusiasm. At one time in Pavarotti’s life he was enrolled in both vocal lessons from a professional tenor and college studies to be a teacher. When he graduated from school he faced a dilemma to either become a signer or to become a teacher. When he asked his father about which course to take, his father responded: “If you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.” What was he trying to say? He was trying to say it is better to be committed to one thing then involved in two. Are you involved with Jesus or are you committed to Jesus?

There is a great difference. Involvement means you are part of something. Commitment means something is part of you. The difference between involvement and commitment is like an eggs and ham breakfast - the chicken was involved but the pig was committed. How much influence does the Gospel have on your daily life? Commitment is not involvement. And all of God’s committed people said, “Amen!”

Commitment requires proper priorities.

Guideline number two is commitment requires proper priorities. Jesus came into this world to save us from the power of sin and death. The mission of the church should be the same, to reach a lost and dying world with the message of saving grace through Jesus. However, we get so busy with “church work” that we never seem to get to the real work of sharing the gospel with others. We will never know when the Master will return so there is an urgency to winning lost people. It is an urgency that I believe that most churches have lost.

Over the holiday I read parts of a book called Planting Growing Churches for the 21^st Century by Aubrey Malphus. He says there are three ways that a church grow. The first way is biological. A young couple in the life of the church has a baby and raises that child under the ministry and the care of the congregation. The second kind of growth is transfer growth. A new member comes to the congregation by transferring from another congregation. The third kind of growth is conversion growth. In other words, a person accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior and joins the church for spiritual guidance. Did you know between 90% and 95% of church grow comes from biological and transfer grow? In other words, we are living in a time in America when souls are not being won to Jesus. The Master could return at any moment but very few souls are being saved. Could it be we are so busy doing church work that we have forgotten the real work of the church? Commitment requires proper priorities. And all of God’s committed people said, “Amen!”

Commitment requires directed focus.

Commitment requires direct focus. Relationships are important. They are one of God’s blessings. The people in your life bring you joy but the greatest relationship you will ever have is with Jesus. Our worldly relationships are temporary but our relationship with Jesus is eternal. Commitment requires direct focus; cast your eyes upon Jesus. And all of God’s committed people said, “Amen!”

So we end were we began. An ancient Roman commander stands before his troops on the shores of Britain. He knows they are both talented and gifted. But he also knows that is not enough. They also must be committed if they are going to advance and conquer.

Jesus is looking into our faces. He sees both talents and gifts. He sees people who can advance and conquer. Our world has devalued commitment. How committed are you to him? And all of God’s committed people said, “Amen!”