Committed To The Effort

Are you still with us?

I remember getting asked that question by a church leader. He was interested to see if we were still committed to the project. What happened, however, was that there was a confusion between the effort for the Kingdom and the desire to build an empire. In as much as there is a confusion, what helps to make things clear is where the heart is in the matter.

If the heart is for the Kingdom principles to really flourish it will be about love, peace, righteousness and joy. If the heart of the matter is about empire building, words are used to subtly manipulate people to give up time and effort for enhancing a name, marketing a brand and advancing a institution without those Kingdom values being at the heart. It can be well meaning and all, but it still negates the very King in the Kingdom.

In any case, at the time I had to tell the church leader that we were no longer committed to the project. That didn’t go down well. It was a sobering lesson in human relationships.

Years later I converse with brothers and sisters in Christ. They still wonder if I’m committed. It’s worth asking because being committed costs. I often get myself concerned if I am committed. Yet, there are sweet moments of peace in Christ knowing that a life committed to knowing Jesus is a life that is still committed to the effort.

I am tremendously blessed by Him, He alone gives my life meaning when everything else seems so confused. He alone gives me hope to keep on living. He alone gives value to what I do in every element of my life. I am certainly committed to the effort of expressing Him and His Kingdom.

Anything that works with that, I am happy to support. Anything that doesn’t, I am in a better place to learn I need to reject that.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden