What Does the Bible Say About Commitment?

When we think of the word commitment, we often think about how it applies to our personal relationship with our spouse. But commitment comes in many forms, and the Bible talks in depth about these forms. There is not only commitment to our spouse, but there is commitment to God, to our spiritual path and to leading a good life.

Features

One feature of commitment is making a stand. Joshua chose to serve the Lord, to make a commitment. Scripture admonishes us to not be wishy-washy, to choose. Joshua 24:15 tells us "...if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day..." The Bible reminds us that we need to commit to the spiritual path we have chosen and not be swayed by those who try to deter us from that path.

Considerations

In Matthew 5:31 and Luke 16:18, Jesus teaches about divorce. His purpose is to teach that we should not make a marriage commitment lightly. God wants the marriage commitment to be for a lifetime, and we should exhaust every means possible to keep this commitment. Even though there are extreme circumstances that even God understands, He wants us to be careful not to commit to marriage and then just give up when the going gets tough.

Misconceptions

In our personal relationships with our spouses, the Bible tells wives to submit to their husbands. In the scriptural sense, submission means committing to one another in the form of compromise and cooperation. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says "...the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." God did not make man better than woman, but they were made to compliment one another. "...as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman."

Benefits

In Est 8:15-17, Mordecai was so committed to God's people that he was willing to put up with Haman's cruelty for years. He risked his life to free the Jews and thus confirmed his long-term commitment to God. He "left the kings presence wearing royal garments...and the city of Susa held a joyous celebration." The scriptures assure us that we will be richly rewarded for upholding our commitment to God.

Warning

When commitment is based on the wrong things, only bad results will befall us. In John 12:18, people come to see Jesus out of curiosity, not commitment. "Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him." In a matter of days, these same people stood by and watched Jesus crucified. So much for commitment. The Bible warns that we should base our commitments on faith and truth, not on common things such as curiosity or self-gratification.

Resources

• Bible Gateway
• Marriage Rescue Services (Christian Counseling)