Stick to Your Commitments
How well do we let our “yes” really mean “yes” and our “no” really mean “no”? Walt’s words ground us with the truth of how we can make sure we’re doing just that.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33, 37
What commitments have you made in your life? Obligations at work, school or in relationships can be exhausting or exhilarating. In Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus warns His followers to take care with what we commit to and simply say what we really mean, and mean what we say.
So, what commitments should we especially consider as believers seeking to honor Christ. Three that seem critical to “get right” are master, mate and mission.
- Master – Who runs your life? Are you trying to run your own life? What guides your decision making? In order to make wise commitments which glorify God and are easier to live with we must actively choose to put the Lord and His teachings in control of our life. Joshua speaks to the importance of this core commitment when he challenges his nation, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (24:15).
- Mate – Who complements your life and spurs you on to greater devotion to God? If you don’t have the spiritual gift of singleness (1 Cor. 7:7) this commitment is so very important. In Genesis 2:24 believers are instructed: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Our commitment is to nourish this relationship and provide a watching world a glimpse of what Christ’s sacrificial love looks like (Eph. 5:31-32).
- Mission – What did the Lord make you to do? As followers of Christ we are all called to love God, love others and make disciples (Mt. 28:18-20). But, how did God individually form you? Your genetics, family background, education, experiences and spiritual gifting all combine to form who you are at this moment. What recharges your emotional battery and gives you a sense of God’s good pleasure?
My individual mission at T Bar M includes reaching and influencing even more lives for Jesus Christ. We seek to do this when we Gift a Camper through growing our camper scholarship fund. We want even more campers to hear the transforming news of forgiveness found in trusting Jesus to forgive their sin and transform their life.
Second, we desire to Bless a Coach through our Sally Coaches’ Scholarship fund. Our goal is to encourage and bless our faithful coaches as they work to complete their college degrees. Qualified coaches apply for a modest scholarship following their summer at T Bar M.
How are you doing in regards to your commitment to your master, mate and mission? Are you Dial’d In?
Because some of you have asked…if Walt’s words regarding gifting a camper or blessing a coach intrigue you, here’s our donation information page for T Bar M Camps.
