Commitment is a Good Thing

by Angie Ledbetter

The "C" Word

There are tons of jokes that float around about guys and their fear of the "C" word, and there are lots of folks who can't or won't make a commitment of any kind. They are afraid of the responsibility and loss of personal freedom they picture when giving an oath/pledge/obligation to someone or something. Maybe it's a fear of failure too. What we don't see as often are those people who live out their commitments. It's time they got a little recognition and good press.

The Fearless

In Joshua 24:16, we see Joshua exemplifying a man who is determined to do what's right. He is faithful to God's call and says,

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

A few others not afraid to make commitments were Solomon, David, Peter, John the Baptist, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Mary Magdalene, and Martha. No matter their background or circumstances, the Lord had the power to touch their hearts and set them on righteous paths. The same is just as true for us today if we take up the task and take the plunge.

Brave New Example

At the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, team canoe racing was a new competition. The US powerhouse team was favored. On the team was a young man named Bill Havens, and he was so good, he was expected to bring home the gold.

As the Olympics neared, Bill's wife was due to give birth to their first child. In the early 1920s there were no airliners or private jets readily available for the athletes, so Bill had quite a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and fulfill his lifelong dream or should he remain by his wife's side? His wife encouraged him to compete with his team, but Bill opted to stay home.

The canoeist honored his higher priority and commitment to his wife. Scripture echoes the beauty of such a choice...

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10)

As it turned out, Bills wife was late in giving birth and he could have made the Olympics and gotten back in time. But Bill Havens had no regrets and didn't spend the rest of his life mourning the loss of his dream.

Mrs. Havens surely knew of her husband's love for her and their baby and Bill would always sleep well at night with the decision he had made. Events could have gone differently, but all things considered, Bill had displayed the virtue of loyalty. Those are gold medals that will never tarnish.

"You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants." (Nehemiah 9:7-8)

Yeah, But What About All the Hard Work?

We face frequent temptations concerning our commitments, as society in general doesn't honor those who are steadfast. In fact, it encourages us to be selfish and self-centered in all our pursuits. Winning media campaigns echo this sentiment; "Just Do It!" "You only go around once, so grab all the gusto you can!" "If it feels good, do it!" "Take care of Number 1."

It is much easier to give up on work we have started when we are not seeing obvious results or being instantly gratified. The temptation to let our promises slide before fulfillment is strong, but we can overcome it.

When we want to give up on our studying, or let our team down by skipping practice, or be disrespectful to parents or others, or hang with the cool crowd instead of upholding our Christian morals, we can visualize two paths. One is the wide and easy way; the other is the small, thorny path that Jesus walked. By rule of thumb, the harder path is usually the correct one.

When we encounter these times, the Bible is full of helpful hints that will get us through our weak spots and shore up our strength.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." (Proverbs 3:3)

A message to "Just Do It!" of another sort!

We also have the examples of holy men and women, the saints, and those we see living the fruits of long-term commitments.

The Rest of the Story

There is a sequel to Bill Havens sad Olympic story. It reveals a second important point about commitments and the generosity with which we live them out. His story teaches us that by upholding our higher goals, we impact those near and dear to us, and others we may not even know.

On August 1, 1924, 10 days after the finish of the Summer Games, Frank was born to Bill and his wife. 28 years later in 1952, Bill received a telegram from Helsinki. It read,

"Dear Dad, Thanks for waiting around for me to be born in 1924. I am coming home with the gold medal you should have won. Your loving son, Frank."

Frank had just won the 10,000-meter canoeing event for the US Olympic team. Bill Havens' commitment 28 years earlier became the inspiration for his son, Frank. Frank, in turn, made his Father's goal his own to show his appreciation for his Fathers dedication.

The Domino Effect

A chain of events is unleashed when we keep our promises. When we commit ourselves to Christ, to one another and to our relationships, we are rewarded and validated at some future point. We, like Bill Havens, must sometimes ask ourselves if we should follow our dreams and desires of self-fulfillment or walk the hard path.

In the spiritual wasteland that often surrounds us, the answer would seem simple. But if we stop, reflect, and think of our commitments and what they could mean over a lifetime, we may find out differently.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Masters happiness!'" (Matthew 25:21)

Life Applications:

Why do you think many people have such a hard time with the "C" word?
Who are your real life examples of commitment keepers?
What are some of the things you can do in order to fulfill your promises?
Who might you influence by being a person of your word?

Copyright 2002-2006 by Angie Ledbetter
All rights reserved.