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Commitment Is….

Articles and studies from all over the world continue to show the same results. Repeated American studies have found that people who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce than those who live together only after marriage. A recent British study likewise echoes the Biblical message of commitment.

The Economic and Social Research Council study found 24 percent of its women as solo parents; and in 85 percent of those cases, the cause was a broken marriage. One third of those in their first marriage had lived with their partner before marriage and 80 percent of those in second and third marriages had done so.

Another interesting detail to appear from this study was the belief of 47 percent of those involved in the study that “divorce is too easy to get these days.” It is a well-recognized fact that the emotional impact of divorce is second only to the death of a spouse — far more serious than dissolving a business partnership or deserting from the military. What the report (and likewise much of modern society) continues to blindly ignore, is the simple fact that the more we try the ways of the world, the more we fail. We ignore God’s way at our own peril! (Hebrews 10:31).

The importance of such studies goes far beyond us as Christians saying, “I told you so” to the world. While the physical lessons are great, there is also an important spiritual lesson. God uses the concept of the family as a picture of our relationship (see Revelation 2:4,14,20-23). The very concept of immorality is used of not just the human sexual sin, but of that relationship breaking with God (see 1 Corinthians 10:8; Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 12:16).

The fact is, the concept of faithfulness and commitment is the standard by which we can measure our success or failure. If we leave our God and His family, then we are claiming for ourselves the title of failures; those who are unwilling and unable to keep a commitment. And in today’s world, failure to be committed, failure to be faithful, is to be like most everyone else.

Upholding a commitment is a sign of real maturity, real courage, real devotion, real success. We have made a commitment to our husbands/wives, to our families, and most important of all, to our God. We have made a commitment to our Lord and His body, the church. We have made a commitment to our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage one another in our journey to heaven.

For that commitment, we are made to be something special. The inspired writer Peter stated:

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).

But it requires continued faithfulness, courage and devotion to keep that commitment, to continue our success. It requires our continued “100 percent” effort together in service to Him.

Therefore, let us devote ourselves to that standard beginning right now.

—Lester P. Bagley, via the Montana Street bulletin