Commitment

 Commitment has been a big theme at UV recently.   On Saturday at a wedding service the marrying couple made promises of lifelong commitment to each other with their dedication to serve God underpinning their marriage.

In Sunday’s baptismal service a married couple went through the waters of baptism making promises of commitment to serve and follow God. Their baptismal day was coincidentally their 17^th wedding anniversary (which tradition marks by a gift of furniture) – the pledge they made to each other 17 years ago is still strong.

During the wedding service whilst celebrating the couple’s vows and promises I was very aware of the large number of people present in the congregation who had made similar promises, yet sadly their marriages had come to an end – often in painful and emotionally difficult circumstances. No one enters a marriage expecting it to fail, and I believe the vows ‘til death do us part’ were spoken with absolute sincerity and intention. Yet not all marriages – Christian and Not Christian last. 

On Saturday the marrying couple are enthusiastic lively Christians and their faith and belief in God was gloriously celebrated throughout the service. They acknowledged through their vows and prayers their need for God’s help and strength to make their vows last a life time.  Our genuine and sincere hope and prayer is that their marriage will be a success; that their commitment to each other and to God will last. 

 The heart warming aspect to the service was hearing so many other people, family and friends and church community committing to helping them build a strong marriage.

God’s commitment to his people was evident on Sunday during the baptismal service. The married couple being baptised pledged themselves; their lives and future to serving God and being obedient to his guidance in their lives. They committed themselves to the local church, where their gifts, skills, personalities will enrich church community life no end. Their commitment to church will also be a great support to their personal faith in God as their friends and family around them will be able to support and help them grow and mature in their faith.

The support of others is crucial to help us succeed in all of our commitments and I believe that belonging to a church is one of the best ways to help our commitment stick.

Our church encourages and challenges people to be better Christians in learning and service. We also encourage people to be better husbands and wives – serving, strengthening and supporting each other.

Christians who are struggling with commitments in faith or in relationships always have the example of God’s devotion to his people to turn to for their inspiration and strength.

In the Bible Isaiah the prophet continually reminds us that God’s behaviour and love and commitment to his people is shown by his continual ongoing strength giving and service to his people.  We describe this commitment as continual not spasmodic. It’s not based on how God feels right now- his commitment really is eternal and it’s because of this eternal capacity we never need doubt him. His pledge is shown through this: his love never changes, it’s who he is.

If God is part of our lives we can always draw on his divine great strength:  God’s commitment to us therefore strengthens the commitment we make to him, the promise we make to people around us.

Vows made in marriage or in a baptism should be made following God’s example of commitment – not based on how we feel at a particular time or place.  Because God has pledged himself to serve and strengthen and love his people - not on a whim but forever - and with God that’s a long, long time.