Over these past six weeks, we’ve had an exciting time looking at the essentials of a transformed life. We began this series with the idea of commitment as a means of priming the pump so that the “water” will start to flow. We’ve talked about prayer, presence, generosity, and service. At our “Taking The Valley” Wild-Eyed Warrior Challenge Kickoff Dinner, many of us submitted commitment forms on which we indicated our specific, personal commitment to the fundraising campaign. Commitment is important. No businessman would actually begin working on a project unless the agreement had been finalized and processed. Without that, you have an intention, but no agreement, no true resolve and promise. By the same token, this is a time in the lifecycle of Caleb’s Heart Ministries for counting the cost and making specific commitments.
Our hope is that over the past six weeks, we’ve each discovered something about the pearl of great price. Now is the time to go and buy it—whatever the cost—or else never possess it. It’s one thing to see the pearl or to acknowledge that it exists; it’s another thing to actually make the commitment to purchase it, to grab hold of it. Remember that we are committed because God has first made a commitment to us. We’re not initiating this commitment; God has already done that through Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The psalmist David said, “He always stands by his covenant / the commitment he made to a thousand generations” (Ps. 105:8). When God makes a commitment, he stands by it. Now we have an opportunity to respond to the covenant that God has made with us in a way that indicates how we choose to experience the treasures of the transformed life for ourselves and in the life of Caleb’s Heart.
Whatever commitment you make, God’s will multiply your rewards on this earth and for all eternity!
- Commitment involves establishing priorities.
- Commitment involves sacrifice. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great Lutheran pastor who was executed by the Nazis during World War II, talked about the problem of the church being “cheap grace.” We want something that doesn’t cost us much, but real commitment involves sacrifice.
- Commitment involves planning ahead and looking to the future; if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it…Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14: 28,31)
- Commitment involves making choices, choosing what is important. Every Thursday evening, we’re going to make a choice to go to Fight Club or not. If we’ve already made a commitment to be in community every week from September to May, then we don’t really have to make that choice every Thursday. If we make a commitment to give financially, when our paycheck comes in, we already know what our commitment involves. You will have already made a lot of choices.
- Commitment also means finishing the task, staying the course. Paul encourages us to persevere when he says “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me” (2 Tim 4:7-8). Throughout the Bible, we see that when we’re faithful, God rewards our commitment. Peter said, “We have left our homes and followed you.” “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you, everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come.” (Luke 18:28–30)
There’s another side to all of this. God expects us to be committed to each other. If Caleb’s Heart Ministries is to be a great institution that God will use, we need to be a team. Commitment helps each of us join hands together, encouraging and offering accountability as we’re told to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “encourage each other and build each other up,” and then in Romans 15:7, “accept each other just as Christ has accepted you.” Scripture admonishes: “stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be divisions…I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Cor. 1:10). We are to “live in harmony with one another. In Caleb’s Heart, everybody is different. No one shares the same interests or the same gifts. But we are a team when the whole group comes together and each person is able to use his or her resources and gifts in an area of interest to them. When that happens, the Ministry can unite as a solid unit.
Where will you commit your time, talent and treasure? Here are some ideas:
- Taking The Valley. This is the single greatest service opportunity of 2018 because it drives and enables everything else. We need more sporting clays shooters/fundraisers and there is still time to jump into this battle for our future!
- Peaceful Valley Ranch construction. Sign up and take part in Work Days throughout June.
- WAAWG 2018. Weekend Almost Alone With God is the essential ministry of Caleb’s Heart. If you have never experienced a WAAWG, find one that fits your summer schedule pretty much any weekend from 4th of July into early September. If you have been before, consider stepping into leadership as a WAAWG Director or Staff for a weekend.
- Fight Club. Look ahead to next fall. Can you come early to set up and pray over the meeting and/or stay late to clean up? Can you provide food, either by cooking or bringing something from a vender? Are you ready to become a Table Host and guide small group discussion? Are you ready to teach? Can you make announcements, serve as Master of Ceremonies?
- Band of Brothers (BOB). Is it time for you to join with a few other men in an extraordinary level of accountability and vulnerability? Maybe you sense a call to lead a BOB. We’ll coach you.
- Financial gifts. A little gift done consistently can make a huge difference, especially when added to the consistent gifts of many. Start somewhere and see what God will do!
What a great time to be part of Caleb’s Heart Ministries! What a great season to have an opportunity to show generosity, to volunteer for service, and to make a solid commitment to participation and prayer. God will reward us in the same measure of the commitment that we make.
