What is commitment? What are its rewards? Why does God want us to be committed to Him?
A friend of mine postponed a career in music to transfer to his girlfriend's university... before being unceremoniously dumped. Another friend abandoned her dreams of becoming independent by transferring to her boyfriend's country of choice. I personally surrendered my heart at one point to a girl, only to discover the crushing limits of human reality.
Commitment always involves sacrifice, and always magnifies its cost over its ultimate price. It always seems harder during the journey than at the final destination.
For some, this is realized in marriage. After a few years down the road, the initial gloss and sheen fade, the quirks and irritants surface, and irreplaceable treasures are discovered. The primary goal of "loving, giving...'til death do us part" becomes a memory to reminisce and perhaps relive to the end, or a pleasant dream some wish to wake up from.
For some, commitment is evident in their professional lives. From entry-level to president, the road is arduous and requires monumental patience and endurance. The day-to-day rigors of work wear down a person's will and identity, reducing some to automaton shells, others to finely forged empire-builders.
God promised to strengthen those fully committed to Him, but we all know how fickle we are, how impatient we can be in any relationship. How much do we want this strength God offers? Why would we be willing to devote ourselves completely?
To quote Ewan McGregor's imperturbable character Edward Bloom in the movie "Big Fish:" "What I recall of Sunday school was, that the more difficult something became, the more rewarding it was in the end." In this case, it's true. Any material thing can strengthen our ego - a car, a toy, good food - but in the end it doesn't fill in all the gaps. A friend can strengthen us with a kind word or a comforting gesture, but a friend can accompany us always, and even the greatest human friend needs their own source of strength. God, being the nuclear bomb equivalent of love and strength, can guarantee 100% performance all the time. Complete commitment.
The most important thing to keep in mind here is this: God is already fully committed to you. He's not just sitting on a cloud, sending greeting cards. God created you, owns you, wrote the story of your life. God saved you before you knew Him through Jesus Christ. Now God is proposing to you, popping the ring, sending out invitations. God is "searching the whole earth." For you.
The only question left is, Do you want to be found?
