I am privileged to be a member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization— peointernational.org). Our purpose, according to the Texas State P.E.O. website, is to “celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate each other to achieve their highest aspirations.”
I am the STAR scholarship chair for my local chapter. Each year it is my responsibility to assist the chapter in selecting a high school junior to apply for the STAR scholarship, complete the chapter recommendation, and mentor the candidate through the application process. It is the perfect position for me to use my experience as a college professor to assist our candidates in reaching their full potential.
The 2021 candidate for the scholarship is exceptional! I was excited to write her recommendation and mentor her through the rigorous application process. She was well within the time framework to click the submit button on her application except for one significant deficiency—the individuals who committed to write her recommendations had not responded. The application could not be submitted without them. Much prayer was offered on behalf of the individuals that they would follow through on their commitment. Our heavenly Father graciously said “yes” and our candidate was able to click the submit button one day before the deadline. The results are announced in the spring.
I now view commitment through a different lens. This situation focused on how individuals’ failure to fulfill a commitment they willingly pledged themselves to can seriously impact another’s opportunity for advancement. As a Christian, I am reminded that I must carefully consider the implications of a request and pray about my involvement before making a commitment. Once committed, I then must follow through on it, even if it inconvenient (Prov. 16:3; Eccl. 4-5). Ananias and Sapphira learned the hard way that failure to fulfill promises made to God have serious consequences (Acts 5:1-11).
Multiple Biblical references focus on the Christian’s commitment to a variety of life’s facets—our families, neighbors, employers, the church, our health, as well as all that we do and say (Eph. 5:22-33, 6:1-6; Prov. 3:28; 1. Cor 6:19; Luke 9:62; Heb. 10:25; Col 3:22-23). Proverbs 31:10-31 reveals the portrait of the wise woman who is clearly committed to her family, neighbors, health, ministry, and her Lord. Matthew 22:37-38 teaches that the chief commitment of our lives, is to love God. Kelsey’s Korner provides some very helpful suggestions to assist us in fulfilling this commitment.
The holiday season is already upon us. May I encourage you, as you are confronted with multiple opportunities to make commitments this season to place each through the grid of Matthew 22:37-38? Doing so will assist you in staying committed to your commitments!
KELSEY’S KORNER
Well, motherhood has definitely caught up to me. As I write, my hair is in dire need of a good wash, there is a dish (or two…) in my fridge right now well past it’s prime, and, most embarrassingly, there’s even some mold growing in one of my toilets…My GOODNESS, life is busy!! Between wrangling an extremely active almost one year old and working 20 hours a week during my son’s naps and in the evenings, there truly is not enough time in the day to get the basics done! Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t trade motherhood for all the cleanliness and free time in the world—but I definitely wouldn’t mind having a bit more discretionary time. :)
With SO much to do and never enough time, the word “commitments” has been floating around my head. When I think of the word “commitment,” I think of a promise. A vow to give your time, energy, and resources, even when it hurts. Commitments are not always easy to keep—in fact, the opposite is usually true! No one needs to make a commitment to eat tasty food or to enjoy a really good book. Commitments are required for the hard things—marriage, ministry, eating healthily, etc. And what we choose to commit our time to is an honest reflection of what we view as most important.
Busyness in our lives naturally ebbs and flows—sometimes we are too busy to scrub our toilets, and in other seasons, the days just seem to crawl by with nothing to do. When our life-seasons change, it’s wise to evaluate our commitments. As I’ve considered mine, the Lord’s words in Matthew 22 keep coming to mind. A Pharisee asked Christ what the greatest commandment was. Jesus responded,
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).
From the mouth of Christ Himself, we are handed, as if on a golden platter, the answer to so many of life’s questions! We are called simply to love God and love people. All of our commitments should be scrutinized according to these two (admittedly broad) categories! And although these words of wisdom do not offer the kind of cut and dry advice I often desire (thou shalt invest in self-cleaning toilets!), they provide a foundation from which we can build our commitments.
Here are a few of my reflections on Matthew 22:
Love God
I can love God by committing to continually seek to know Him through His Word and fellowship with Him in Prayer (Ps. 63).
I can love God by faithfully and joyfully committing to the indispensable tasks He’s entrusted me with, such as marriage and motherhood (Matt. 25:14-30).
I can love God by committing to love and practice righteousness and hate and abstain from evil (Rom. 12:9).
Love People
I can love people by committing to give the first fruits of my time, resources, energy, and love to my family (Prov. 31).
I can love people by committing to serve the Church, specifically, Rock Creek Baptist Church (Gal. 6:10).
I can love people by committing to protect and serve the widow and the orphan, the alien and sojourner, and the lost and the least of these (James 1:27; Deut. 10:19, Matt. 25:35-40).
Once we prayerfully choose our commitments, we must strive to faithfully keep them. We serve a God who keeps His promises—every one of them! And since we are created in the image of this God, we, too, are called to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no” (Matt. 5:37).
So whether you find yourself in a season of life that’s filled to the brim or down in the dregs, purpose with me to prayerfully dedicate our whole beings to the commitments that best allow us to love God and love people.
THE EVERYDAY HOMEMAKER’S MONTHLY MEDITATION THOUGHT
God’s Word states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Therefore, I may boldly say, “through the Lord’s strength I will choose to have every fiber of my being, every facet of my life, committed to loving and serving God!”
You might enjoy other of our Commitment and Holiday related Posts:
“The Quest for Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God”
“Do You Offer Trust and Confidence in Your Friendships?”
“Choosing to Wrap Your Holidays in Prayer”
“Keeping the Holy in Holidays”
“Choices That Prepare Our Hearts for a Fantastic Holiday Season“
“This Holiday Season Are You Joyfully Anticipating His Coming?”
Blessings on your day as you focus on making your house a home!