Sermon Central
-
Total Commitment To God
Contributed by Dr. Ronnie Grizzle on Jul 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Shows the Christian the type of life that total commitment brings as well as the protection of God that total commitment gives.
Total Commitment to God
Psalm 37.1-13
Thompson Creek Baptist Church
July 22, 2007 (AM)
Psa 37:1-13 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. (2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. (3) Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. (7) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (10) For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. (11) But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (12) The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. (13) The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
I want us to see four things concerning commitment to God from this Psalm of David.
I. The Committed Life is one of Trust.
In v. 3, David said “Trust in the Lord”; in v. 5 he said “trust also in him.”
God wants us to trust Him. God is worthy of our trust! Folks, trust is faith in action!
Where is your trust this morning? Is it in yourself or your fellow man or are really putting your trust in God.
II. The committed life saves us from worry.
Jesus reminded us that God the Father feeds the birds of the air, and we are better than the birds, so why worry?
The root meaning of the word worry, is to wear away by friction. The Bible forbids worry, David in this Psalm, has told us to “Fret not thyself” twice!
Don’t worry about every little thing that goes on in your life. If you do, you are not putting your trust in God and therefore you are not totally committed to God.
III. The committed life saves you from envy,
In v. 1, David tells us to “neither be thou envious”. Don’t be jealous.
You will be a lot happier if you are not jealous of the possessions of someone else.
It is such a comfort to be satisfied with one’s portion. Envy is the rottenness of the bones. Covetousness or envy, leads to resentment and bitterness.
Be satisfied with the blessing that you have, and don’t covet the blessings of others.
IV. The committed life is one of Joy.
Verse 4—Delight thyself also in the Lord! The truly committed life becomes a joy, because you know that God is on your side, no matter what comes your way.
Paul told us to “count it all joy”. That is the key to living a joyous life, counting everything that God gives you and allows you to go through as a joy!
Being totally committed to Christ, will apparently bring opposition and trouble to your life.
Being totally committed to God may even cause you some trouble out of the very people that are supposed to be on your side.
Look at what David had to say in verses 1-2. Don’t worry about them. Don’t be envious because Satan is blessing them. (You see, God is not going to bless a worker of iniquity.)
It might look like it on the outside, but it is really Satan blessing his workers, to make it look like they are the ones truly following God.
Verse 2 gives the fate of those who work iniquity and cause God’s children trouble—They will soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb.
God is not going to allow them to continue to persecute you and cause you trouble.
He will take care of your enemies, even if they are a member of the church.
They will be cut down in God’s time! In the words of Jesus, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear!”
Again in vv. 8-13—We are told to not worry about those who are against you! Don’t worry about the ones who seem to be getting ahead in life because of the tales they are telling and the iniquity that they sow.
