What is Total Commitment?
Written by J. C. Tulalian
And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”—Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
In every relationship, commitment matters. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, commitment is “a promise to be loyal to someone or something.” From time to time, some young people share with me about their relationships with their boyfriend or girlfriend or even the friendships they share with their best or special friends. As I listen to them and try to paint a complete picture of their situations, it strikes me that for some, commitment is overlooked and taken for granted in their relationships.
In our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are we totally committed to Him or do we take for granted the relationship we have? In saying we follow Jesus, do we follow Him wholeheartedly? In the book by P. C. Flores entitled No Cross, No Crown, he writes: “What is total commitment? Many Christians are active, but not totally committed. They go through the motions of Christian action, but without burning passion, without a compelling vision, without a sense of mission.”
In the Bible, we read of a man named Caleb who was a man of total commitment. He gave his whole self to God—body and soul. Nothing less. No excuses. No apologies. The Bible attests to his character, recording that he “followed [God] wholeheartedly” (Deuteronomy 1:36; Numbers 14:24 NIV).
P.C. Flores also made this statement: “I would rather have 10 men who are 100 percent committed than to have 100 men who are 99 percent committed.” Discipleship calls for total commitment. Our utmost for the Highest. Are you totally committed?
Photo credit: shesthereasonfortheworld / Foter / CC BY-NC
Who is P.C. Flores? Google search did not reveal such a person. Also, I have done a search in No Cross, No Crown. It is written by William Penn and has no quotes on Total Commitment. Please enlighten where your source is from. Thank you