We can be committed to work, sports or learning. On the other hand, as Christians, we are most committed to following Jesus. The Christian life comes with inconveniences, difficulties, as well as for an athlete who has to practice in order to achieve the best possible results.

Following Jesus

We can see in Christianity that most are not committed enough. This is also because church teachings most often praise church members. That is why church members do not even feel that they should be more committed to following Jesus.

„Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

1Corinthians 9:24-27

The greatest success of an athlete is to be better than everyone in that sport. But how much more important is our future life than this! That is why we must follow Jesus with all our might, because there is nothing more important in this world.

Good deeds

Many Christians think that good deeds are not important. Yet it is through our actions that we show our faith in God.

„Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works. and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”–and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

James 2:20-24

Salvation is a gift from God

Many Christians confuse commitment with business. We have not made a deal with God that if we believe in Him He will take us to Heaven. We cannot give anything for our salvation (Mark 8:37), it is always a gift from God. But not everyone gets this gift. The gift of salvation is given to one who is faithful to it and who meets God’s expectations.

„And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Matthew 25:20-21

Worthless Servant

But those who are not faithful should not even hope for salvation:

„He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Matthew 25:24-30