Committed?

Mr. Musings & Meta-tations: 😍

We often take for granted what we get easily for free. If there isn’t a personal investment, we tend to devalue or esteem it lowly. Sometimes we may say we will attend things that are free, but don’t always actually attend. We may get caught up in something else, or something better comes along, or maybe we just don’t feel like going or doing to the event/activity. 

When do we tend to commit or follow through the most? Typically it’s when the stakes are a little higher – when there is some cost associated to not following through. Ironically, often times, the cost doesn’t even need to be very big for us to stay committed. Businesses often counter this tendency by enforcing a small deposit to ensure people commit and show up for appointments. Often times, these deposits are small and either fully refundable or applied toward rendered services. 

The simple act of putting some value to the thing we’re looking to do has a huge psychological impact of solidifying our commitment and resolve to do the thing we intended. King David understood this concept in the Old Testament. We see in 2 Samuel 24 where David was instructed to raise an alter and offer sacrifices to God to avert a plague. 

When David got to the location where he was instructed to submit the offering, Araunah, the owner of the land, offered David the location, the oxen and all the materials needed for the alter and offering. 

In verses 22-23, Araunah demonstrates his commitment to both King David and to God by taking from his own livelihood and future welfare to giving everything needed. This was a huge gesture by Araunah to quickly and freely give what was his own but also needed for the nation. David identified the valuable trait in Araunah and called it out for himself as well. In verse 24, David says “I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” David spent a large sum for the location and the offering to show just how committed he was to complete the task that he was instructed to perform. 

When we are in the middle of life’s choices – whether it’s deciding to commit to attend an activity, to participate in a worthy cause, our daily routines, or the specific task that God has assigned to us – we need to decide whether we will take the easier convenient path, or the path that will cost us something. That cost can be of monetary value, or it can be of our time, or our personal resolve. That cost is what demonstrates our commitment and helps define our character.


~mnm

Leave a Comment