What Commit-ment?!
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Illustration: Video Clip from Mr. Holland’s Opus – The scene is at the end of the movie when he has been let go because of budget cuts. He wonders if he made a difference. He is escorted into the auditorium where he is surprised to find that it is packed full of people who influenced as a result of his commitment to teach them music. A former student now governor tells everyone that Mr. Holland touched every one of his students and that, even though he may not have finished composing his musical symphony, his students represent his living symphony.
His commitment did make a difference – it impacted many lives.
Introduction: Daniel was a man who committed to the Lord and to others and it made a difference in others lives. Daniel was a man committed to the spirit of God. His commitment to the things of God influenced his life situation, rather than letting his life situation influence him.
Christianity without commitment is always Christianity without Christ.
Commitment is the mindset that refuses to compromise its relationship with Jesus Christ. To commit something means – to have a mindset that has pledged or promised to do something for the Lord. When we commit to being a Christian we in essence commit to being a witness for Jesus Christ to all we come in contact with whether they are Christian or not.
The other night I was channel surfing and came a cross a scene on Seinfeld where Kramer was trying to convince Jerry that he should not make a commitment to the girl he was seeing. Jerry asked him why? Kramer responded, “Because when you commit – your committed to prison.” He spoofs it like a mental patient is committed because he has lost his mind. Jerry bursts out, “No I want to commit to her.” Kramer right back at him, “ No man no he said. Listen to what happens if you commit. You can no longer watch television and eat supper. You have to sit down at the dinner table and talk to her man.” Jerry responds, “No way your kidding?” Kramer, “Yeah man you become a slave to her I want to know talks.” He continues, “You have to tell her what was good and bad about your day.” Jerry responds,” Get out of here!” Kramer says, “It’s over man your committed to prison and it’s pure torture.”
Commitment has received a negative rap today in our society we laugh about the Seinfeld shows play on what is commitment. But really our society has become a culture lacking more and more commitment to causes, patriotism, organizations, churches, school, and yes, even to each other in marriage.
Proverbs 16:25 warns us “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Commitment is an essential part of the Christian walk. When we say we need to be committed to Christ it means the following:
1. When we commit it means we have the mindset to stick with it to the end
Proverms15:14
2. When we commit we stand on our values even if others disagree.
Proverbs16:17
3. When we commit we determine to not compromise our ethics.
Proverbs 16:21
4. When we commit we refuse to be polluted by the world’s ways.
Proverbs 16:25
5. When we commit we take responsibility for our actions.
Proverbs 15:33
6. When we commit we trust God when we face impossible situations.
Proverbs 16:4a
7. When we commit we see God use us mightily in his kingdom to influence others.
Proverbs 16:6-7
When we learn the value and benefits of commitment we become amazed at the results.
You ask what kind of results? Here are a few that I have observed as a result of making a commitment to Jesus Christ:
1. Commitment brings peace and contentment.
Proverbs 15:16
2. Commitment brings divine insight to my life.
Proverbs 15:29
3. Commitment brings focus to my life.
Proverbs 16:1
4. Commitment brings integrity.
Proverbs 16:2
5. Commitment brings success to my life.
Proverbs 16:3
6. Commitment brings a life filled with fruitful labor.
Proverbs 16:20
7. Commitment brings a closer relationship with the Lord.
Proverbs 18:10
8. Commitment brings respect from others.
Proverbs 16:7
9. Commitment brings changed lives.
Proverbs 16:5
10. Commitment brings hope to the hopeless.
Proverbs 19:23
11. Commitment brings eternal rewards.
Proverbs 16:6
12. Commitment brings honor to God who in return honors you.
Proverbs 19:21
Let’s do a character sketch on Daniel – a committed man of God- and learn how to be men and women who have a committed spirit.
Historical Background:
Daniel was among the Jewish captives of the first deportment by Nebuchadnezzar in 605 B.C. He lived in Babylon throughout the entire seventy- year captivity period. Daniel was taken captive at eighteen years old. He served for three different rulers.
1. Nebuchadnezzar (Neo-Babylonian)
2. Darius the Mede (Median)
3. Cyrus (Persian)
Daniel, as we shall see, was one of the most notable characters of Jewish history, one of the greatest and purest souls of the Bible. He was a man with a committed spirit who influenced his surroundings. He never compromised his personal walk with God in his captivity. Instead he separated himself from the defilement of Babylon and became an active witness for God.
I. DANIEL SHOWED COMMITTMENT BY HIS MORALITY IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE. (Dan. 1:8-20)
8But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, 10but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your£ food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
a. Daniel, a captive of Babylon who was chosen by Ashpenaz to serve in the king’s court, always acted in humility and never became bitter because of his captivity, and he never let Babylon destroy his morals.
** Even under extreme circumstances, his true character blossomed forth.**
1. Daniel decided in his heart, that he would not drink or eat of the royal food. He decided that Babylon would not influence his moral life. (Vs. 8)
2. Daniel did not want to eat or drink the royal meals:
a. The food served was forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Ezekiel 4:13-15) 13 Then the Lord said, "So shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I will drive them." 14 So I said, "Ah, Lord God! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth."
- The food had been consecrated by presenting it to idols before serving.-
b. We see that Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. "I will write my law on their hearts." It was written in Daniel’s heart.
3. We notice that Daniel approached the chief official with gentleness and humility, asking permission to abstain from the food and drink. (Vs. 8)
a. He even showed forth his wisdom by suggesting a test. (Vs. 11-14)
b. It is important to remember that this situation was a life and death situation in those days. Daniel stood on the principles of the Word, but acted in humility. He let the reality stay in his heart and let God lead him to a peaceful solution.
c. The result of his obedience to God and request to the official brought God’s blessings.
d. He and his friends had great physical health and vigor (1:15)
e. God increased their intellectual attainment and knowledge. (1:17, 20)
f. They gained spiritual power (1:17)
g. They also prospered and influenced their surroundings.
Application: This example of Daniel should influence us not to let the world erode our moral life. We are not to conform to the world’s ways or manners, but be men and women of god who influence our surroundings. We should not do what this man did:
Illustration: "They Did Not Find It Out."
1. Evangelist Billy Sunday tells the story of a certain man, a professing Christian, whose business required him to spend some months among the lumber-jacks of the Northwest. Knowing how rough and godless many of these men are, and how they ridicule sacred things, a friend said to him, "What did the jackies do to you when they found out you were a Christian?" And the traveler answered with a touch of shameless pride, "They did not do anything, for they did not find it out! "How glaring the contrast between this cowardly silence and the witness-bearing of an Old Western traveling man! In the office of a rude hotel several miners were gambling. As they became intoxicated, they began to swear, particularly taking in vain the name of Jesus. The Christian traveler was writing his daily letter to the house. He sat still a moment, wondering whether to leave the room or rebuke these strangers for their profanity. Finally he walked over and said, "Pardon me, boys, but this Jesus Christ whose name you are coupling with such vile oaths is my Savior, and it hurts to hear you use His name so. He’s done too much for us all to be given such treatment. If you must swear, can’t you leave the name of Jesus out? Rough as they were, the men saw the genuineness of the man who spoke, and saying, "All Right, pard; we’ll see what we can do," they quieted down, and swore no more. Does the world know you are a committed Christian? Do the members of your fraternity, lodge, or social circle know it? If they do not, how does it happen? It cannot be that you are ashamed of it. Let us live so true to Him that, whether or acquaintances know much about us or little, they will at least know that we dearly love our Lord, --Christian Endeavor World
T.S.- Daniel showed commitment to the Lord by making his stand and God blessed him but many more challenges came to him and he stayed committed. Lets explore another one.
II. DANIEL ALSO SHOWED COMMITTMENT THROUGH ALL HIS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. (Dan. 6:1-24)
Daniel 6:1-24
1It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. 3Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.” 6So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: “O King Darius, live forever! 7The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. 8Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9So King Darius put the decree in writing.
10Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. 12So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 13Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” 14When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, “Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. 19At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. 20When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Daniel answered, “O king, live forever! 22My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king.” 23The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
a. Darius recognized exceptional qualities and a committed spirit in Daniel.
i. Daniel 6:14, "When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed, he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him."
ii. Daniel 6:16, :". . . the king said to Daniel, ’May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you.’"
1. The satraps could not find any corruption or negligence in Daniel because he was trustworthy, their only charge was that he worshipped God. (Daniel 6:4)
iii. From this action, we see that Daniel served his superiors with his whole heart. He had his priorities in order. God was first and man was second.
1. He served his superiors in love and humility. Daniel never hardened his heart under secular rulers. Daniel served the rulers in honesty and in hard work. He honored his rulers with respect.
Application:
i. We cannot control our leaders or superiors but we can honor them and influence them by our witness.
ii. God will place us under who he wants us under so that we can minister to them and show them by our attitude who God is.
T.S.- Daniel’s commitment to the Lord paid off in a life and death situation and it also gave him influence with those he served.
Conclusion:
Daniel was a man committed to the spirit and as a result it influenced his life situation, rather than letting his life situations influence him.
Daniel showed the quality of a man with a committed spirit by his actions in difficult life situations.
1. Daniel showed commitment to the Lord by making his stand and God blessed him
2. Daniel also showed us that in difficult times, even life and death situations, we can follow his method to deal with the problem.
- We face the problem with faith in God to solve it.
-We pray to God personally and ask our friends to pray with us.
-We face the situation with God’s assurance of victory because He is in control.
-When we have made it through, we are to remember the source of our victory. Then we are to share the reward with our friends.
-Jesus committed to our eternity by going to Calvary
What are You Going to do Now?!
