SERMON 6
“COMMITMENT VS. SITUATIONSHIP”
Introduction:
We will start our message tonight with a quick survey (See slides)
How did you rate your love life? Some of you raised 7 while others raised 1.
Our love life plays a significant role in our overall well-being, and it should not be
underestimated. The decisions we make regarding our love life can have a
profound impact on our future, either bringing blessings or curses. The inclusion
of love stories such as Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel,
and Boaz and Ruth in the Bible highlights God's concern for our love life.
So, we should prayerfully consider our choices for our love life.
One of the most common choices young people are facing today is
Commitment versus Situationship.
To learn more of this, let us listen to a message entitled…
“COMMITMENT VERSUS SITUATIONSHIP”
Situationship is defined as a romantic or sexual relationship that is not
considered to be formal or established.
If you ask, why is this kind of relationship considered not formal or established?
The answer is that situationship is a no label relationship because it lacks the
most important element of a stable relationship that is commitment.
So many young people today settled to situationship instead of a steady and
secured relationship. The reason behind is that young people are afraid to
commit.
Commitment can be frightening because it means the loss of options. After all,
a commitment is a promise about the future, but things might change in the
future. What if I promise to be your boyfriend but then I change? What if I
promise to marry you, but then you change?
People who are afraid of commitment are called Commitment-phobes they are
afraid of missing out on something. They think, As long as I’m not committed,
I’m free to go for the gusto, free to see whomever I want, free to eat whatever I
want, do whatever I choose, buy whatever looks good, say whatever seems
useful, and experience anything I desire. According to this way of thinking,
avoiding commitment is the pathway to freedom.
For the Commitment-phobes Situationship might be convenient but they
undermine that fact that it does more harm than good. Without commitment,
no relationship would work. Situationship will only result to misunderstandings,
conflict and eventually to a no-label break up. This kind of relationship is
frustrating and confusing.
In an article published online from Linkin.com on situationship, the author said
“The lack of commitment in situationships can lead to feelings of isolation and
loneliness. Despite sharing a deep emotional connection with a partner, the
absence of public recognition and clear commitment can make individuals feel
as though they are concealing a significant aspect of their lives. This secrecy
can intensify feelings of isolation, exacerbating the emotional toll of these
relationships.”
Studies have indicated that being involved in a situationship can greatly affect
one's mental well-being, leading to emotions such as frustration, resentment,
and even potential depression. In the absence of a solid foundation for
communication and conflict resolution, effectively navigating the uncertainties
of a situationship becomes challenging, leaving individuals vulnerable to
emotional distress.
To prevent getting entangled in situationship, it is crucial for young people to
understand the significance of commitment and its importance in various types
of relationships.
We have to understand that when we commit ourselves to someone, we’re no
longer the only ones in charge. Our time and our heart are no longer our own.
Commitment builds an invisible fence around us, and we freely choose to honor
its restrictions on our freedom. Once we’ve made a commitment, we’re no
longer just me, myself, I; we’ve become part of a we.
In an essay titled "A Defense of Rash Vows," G. K. Chesterton eloquently explores
the idea that through the act of making and honoring commitments, we are
able to surpass the constraints of time and establish an enduring sense of self.
Chesterton beautifully expresses this notion by stating, "When a person makes a
vow, they essentially schedule a meeting with themselves at a future moment or
location."
A renown author named John Ortberg wrote in his book entitled “I’d like you
more if you were more like me’ said
“In the act of commitment, I bind myself to that future moment. I’m not free to
love another woman. I’m not free to follow another God. And yet somehow, that
“not free” commitment leads to a deeper freedom than all the other options
and escape clauses in a commitment-phobic world.”
The reason why many young people are afraid of commitment or doesn’t know
how to commit to each other is that they do not have a commitment with God.
We must understand how God commits to us before we can commit to other
people.
To do that we need to read Genesis 15:17
“When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and
a flaming torch passed between these pieces.”
This would sound like a difficult verse but trust me this is very beautiful.
Abraham was given a promise by God, stating that his descendants would be as
numerous as the stars in the sky. Initially, it was effortless for Abraham to have
faith in this promise, especially when he and his wife were still in their youth.
However, as the years went by and they grew old, unable to conceive a child,
God reassured Abraham of His unwavering faithfulness to His commitment. But
during this time, it’s no longer very easy to believe.
In Genesis 15:8 Abraham finally speak out and asked God
“But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”
Abraham had to ask this, he had to know how committed God was in giving
them a child.
God’s answer is in Genesis 15:9
“He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years
old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” And he brought
him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he
did not cut the birds in half.”
What is this? Why would God ask Abraham to bring animals and cut them in
half? This is very strange for us but Abraham was very familiar with the practice
of covenantal ceremonies involving the cutting of animals in half. This ritual
symbolized a promise or commitment between two parties. By passing through
the carcasses of the animals, both parties acknowledged that failing to fulfill
their commitment would result in consequences similar to those of the dead
animals.
But in this story Abraham did not pass through the carcasses only God did.
This is what Genesis 15: 17 means when it says…
“When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and
a flaming torch passed between these pieces.”
God showed to Abraham that He was faithful to His commitment.
This commitment was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. All of those animals
killed and cut in half symbolizes the pain and agony Jesus experienced on the
cross just to fulfill his commitment in saving us.
John 19:30 says this…
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed
his head and gave up his spirit.”
When he shouted “it is finished” he shouted to all of us that we are forgiven. He
was not ashamed to declare that we have been saved by Him.
Did you know that Jesus was tempted six times in order not to fulfill his
commitment to us.
1st Matthew 4:3-4
“And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God,
command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is
written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes
from the mouth of God.”
When Jesus became human, he set aside his divinity so that he can fully
embrace humanity. If He used his divine power to save himself from hunger,
that means that he regains his divinity. This would automatically disqualify Him
to be a savior because he was no longer a fully human.
In order to keep his commitment, he endured hunger for us.
2nd Matthew 4:6
“And said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
He will command his angels concerning you and on their hands they will bear
you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, “Again it is
written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
If Jesus consented to the deception of Satan by jumping from the pinnacle of
the temple in order to prove himself as God, he would indirectly summon His
angels to come and save Him, hence, regaining is divine authority over his
angels.
Jesus was very committed that he would not consent to the temptation of Satan
in any way.
3rd Matthew 4:9-10
“ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give
you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone,
Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall
you serve.”
Worshipping Satan just once would be a lot easier than dying on the cross. Jesus
was so committed that he was ready and willing to suffer for us.
Even when Jesus was already on the cross, Satan tried to tempt Him trice to give
up his commitment and just come down from the cross.
4th Matthew 27:40
“ And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and
saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save
yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
5th MATTHEW 27:41-42
“In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were
mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the
King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in
Him.”
6th LUKE 23:39
“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying,
“Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
In each of these times Jesus never gave up His commitment because He is not
giving up on us. Even if it was hard, even if it was painful Jesus never doubted
His decision in fulfilling His promise to save us. After everything he could only
shout “It is finished!”
Before we will continue, I want you to listen to a message of song entitled “to
rescue a sinner line me” (Ask someone or a group to sing the song)
Friends, Jesus showed his commitment to us by dying on the cross?
If you are one of the young people here who is asking how will you show your
commitment to Christ.
This is the ABCD showing our commitment to Jesus
1. Acknowledge your sin (Psalm 32:5)
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will
confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah
Think of those you were consciously or unconsciously sinning. Recognized that
you hurt God because of those sins.
2. Believe in Jesus (John 3:16)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Believe that the death of Jesus can cleanse and forgive you even how big was
your sin or how dark was your past.
3. Commit your life to Christ through Baptism (Mark 16:16)
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned.”
The greatest manifestation of our commitment to Christ is through baptism
because through it we showed that we are willing to die with Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4-6
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into
death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Being baptize is like being married to Christ because we are becoming one with
Him.
What kind of baptism are we talking about here since there are many kinds of
baptism?
The kind of baptism Christ was baptized
Matthew 3:16
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and
behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;”
Jesus was immersed in the Jordan river when John baptized him. This baptism is
called immersion. This is the only baptism taught in the Bible.
Jesus is asking your commitment today. Will you say yes?
4. Don’t delay (Acts 22:16)
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,
calling on his name.”
Hebrews 3:15
“As it is said, Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the
rebellion.”
2 Corinthians 6:2
“For he says, In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I
have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.”
If you will be baptized the same words Jesus heard when He was baptized the
same would God feel for you.
Matthew 3:17
“And behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son (daughter), with
whom I am well pleased.”
As you are pondering on your decision I want you to listen this song…(God is
good by Jonathan Edwards. The speaker may choose a song he would like for
the appeal. During the altar call a music should be played as background.
The music will prepare their hearts for Jesus)
Friends, nothing stopped Christ from fulfilling His commitment to you. I don’t
know what is stopping you but we want you to accept Jesus Christ through
baptism.
Will you say YES to Jesus?
If you say yes, please come in front. Jesus is waiting for your commitment.
