The Implications of Definitions

The English language is filled with nuances which impact our perspective.  So many words we commonly use have a range of meaning, and learning the definitions of words enriches our understanding.  It is very possible we limit the meaning of a word to one facet and miss the implications.  Take as an example the word "commit."  The vast majority of times the word is used is in a negative sense, for instance to "commit" murder or adultery.  There are positive uses of the word as well, like in Psalm 37:5:  "Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."  The implication of the word is to roll away, give, or entrust.

To illustrate the wide range of meanings of this word "commit," here is the definition from the Webster's Dictionary 1828 edition (punctuation and spacing edited by me to save space):

COMMIT, verb transitive literally, to send to or upon; to throw, put or lay upon. Hence,

1. To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another; to entrust; with to; "COMMIT thy way to the Lord." Psalms 37:5; "The things thou hast heard of me, commit to faithful men." 2 Timothy 2:2.

2. To put into any place for preservation; to deposit; as, to commit a passage in a book to memory; to commit the body to the grave.

3. To put or sent to, for confinement; as, to commit an offender to prison. Hence for the sake of brevity, commit is used for imprison. The sheriff has committed the offender; "These two were committed, at least restrained of their liberty."

4. To do; to effect or perpetrate; as, to commit murder, treason, felony, or trespass; "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14. 

5. To join or put together, for a contest; to match; followed by with; a latinism; "How does Philopolis commit the opponent with the respondent?"

6. To place in a state of hostility or incongruity. Committing short and long words. But this seems to be the same signification as the foregoing.

7. To expose or endanger by a preliminary step or decision which cannot be recalled; as, to commit the peace of a country by espousing the cause of a belligerent; "You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship without committing the honour of your sovereign."

8. To engage; to pledge; or to pledge by implication; "The general--addressed letters to Gen. Gates and to Gen. Heath, cautioning them against any sudden assent to the proposal, which might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States." And with the reciprocal pronoun, to commit ones self, is to do some act, or make some declaration, which may bind the person in honour, good faith, or consistency, to pursue a certain course of conduct, or to adhere to the tenor of that declaration.

9. To refer or entrust to a committee, or select number of persons, for their consideration and report; a term of legislation; as, the petition or the bill is committed. "Is it the pleasure of the house to commit the bill?"

People are commonly encouraged to "commit" their lives to Jesus as LORD and Saviour.  Making the decision to follow Jesus is undoubtedly a commitment, but this word does not necessarily convey faith or trust.  I remember a friend who used the term "commitment" in relation to a pledge he made to his local church to give so much money over the next four years.  In his mind he made this pledge and therefore he was covered - for lack of a better word.  It is scriptural we would commit our lives to Jesus as He did into the hands of the Father, to entrust ourselves entirely to His covenant and will.  But I do find it interesting Jesus never asked the disciples to commit before following Him.  He was not interested in them pledging their loyalty before they were permitted to be His disciples.  In most cases recorded in scripture He simply said, "Follow Me."  Their faith was not conveyed by words alone but through obedience.  Our pledges mean nothing if they are only words or promising to give money or assent:  faith in Jesus and spiritual rebirth through the Gospel is needed for salvation.

So friends, crack open those dictionaries!  Language is a complex challenge to navigate, and our much improved access to information does not necessarily mean we understand the nuances of our mother tongue!  Words are powerful because of the meaning behind them when properly understood.  This is why I steer away from recent translations tailored for modern speakers, for stripping away language reduces meaning and significance.  Reducing language to today's common vernacular tends to dilute rather than distill.  God saw fit to give us His words written down which have been faithfully translated - not only so we could analyse and repeat them in our language - but so we could know Him and walk in light of His revelation and truth.

Well Pleasing to God

No one likes the feeling of being judged, especially when perceive judgments are unfair.  Negative opinions others have about us can be hurtful and impact us deeply.  How can we balance caring for people without trying to please them?  Paul was a follower of Jesus who set a great example of how to do this because he primarily lived to please God.  He was not careless about the feelings of others, for he loved deeply and served others sincerely.  But even when he was judged negatively by people inside or outside the church, he pressed on in faith in pursuit of Christ without regrets.

Paul wrote to people in the Corinthian church, and many in that fellowship had a low view of him.  They questioned his motives; they downplayed his leadership.  They admitted he wrote powerful letters, but his bodily presence was weak and his speaking contemptible - which means they despised it!  Paul knew well he would one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and would receive according to all he had done or said, good or bad.  He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:9-11, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

The apostle Paul aimed to be well pleasing to God, and he realised God knew him perfectly.  On the Day of Judgment God was not going to take into account the opinions or judgments of men concerning Paul's actions or motives:  God already knew them.  Paul, in a sense, examined his heart and made his decisions in light of the impending judgment he would face before the righteous, holy God.  Therefore the opinions or judgments of men (negative or positive) had minimal impact whatsoever on him.  He was not buoyed by a sense of success from adulation, nor was he waylaid from obedience to God by harsh censure.  Paul was not in the habit of walking according to his shortsightedness but had a singleness of mind in following and obeying Jesus.

Because Paul feared God he sought to persuade men to be well pleasing to Him.  Paul didn't want people discipling one another and walking uprightly only when he was around but also when he was not able to oversee the ministry in Corinth.  He did the best he could in person or through letters to convey instruction and rebuke seasoned with grace, to exhort and encourage all to continue steadfastly in the faith.  He warned them with many tears, not caring if they judged him weak and contemptible.  He did not speak with wisdom of words but with fear and trembling, seeking to impact the church for God's glory.  Not all received or appreciated what Paul had to say, and the same could be said about His LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Jesus lived to do the will of the Father, and as His servants we should do the same.

The supreme courts of men do not have authority which extends above the throne of God which is above all.  If we in a clear conscience can stand boldly before God's throne of grace, then we do not need to worry about the opinions of men.  Paul stood because God enabled him to stand, and praise God that is His will for us too.  Take to heart the words of Galatians 6:9-10: "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Receiving a "Well done, good and faithful servant" from the lips of my King will be sufficient.  God is well pleased to say this to His redeemed.

Receiving the Reward

God rewards those who trust and diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6), and the life of Enoch is cited as an example.  Enoch pleased God, and without faith it is impossible to please God.  He was translated to heaven and never saw death, and what a great reward eternal life is for all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.  Heaven is not the only place where God rewards His people, for we are abundantly blessed with God's presence, love, forgiveness, peace, and fullness of joy even now.

The rewards supplied by God by His grace come to us in unexpected ways.  God has set aside for us a "full reward" John alludes to in 2 John 1:8.  There are ways we can miss out on the rewards God intends to give us.  Paul revealed when followers of Jesus are judged for our stewardship before the judgment seat of Christ we could potentially suffer loss (1 Corinthians 3:15).  Perhaps a little story might help this make sense.

There was once a man who worked for his wealthy father as long as he could remember.  He toiled away day after day because it was expected of him as the oldest son to set a good example.  Before the sun he rose to his duties, but often his heart wasn't in it.  He felt he was hard done by, for what did he have to show for his labours?  All it did was increase his father's wealth.  Let's say he didn't feel there was much upward mobility.

When the season to plow and sow arrived, the father supplied his son with an abundance of seed, farm equipment, and provided access to a well-watered plain.  "Feel free to sow all you want," the father said with a gleam in his eye.  "No doubt it will be a bountiful harvest."  Well, needless to say the son was not impressed.  Fine for him to say, the man thought to himself.  The rich get richer and the workers just keep slaving away, and for what?  What do I have to show for decades of work?  The son was glad for his pay and benefits, but could not be bothered to apply himself.  His father already was rich and lacked nothing.  To rub it in, he was going away on a long holiday as well!

As he continued day after day, the son became increasingly bitter.  It struck him how poorly he was being treated, even taken advantage of!  He felt under pressure by this expectation of a good crop!  So what did he do?  He decided to teach his old man a lesson for taking him for granted.  His days still began before dawn, but he sowed rusty nails instead of seed.  He took long breaks when he should have been clearing new fields, and napped when he could have repaired the irrigation system.  Month after month this continued.  A meagre crop sprang up from old seed, but it was a pitiful amount, a fraction of previous years.  Man, when dad finds out he'll learn his lesson.  The look on his face will be unforgettable.  He smiled thinking about it.

Having returned from a holiday, the man's father gathered the family for an announcement.  He said, "It's no secret I am a wealthy man.  Because I value and rejoice over my eldest son who has served me these many years, instead of harvesting and selling this year's crops for my benefit, in addition to his wages as his reward all that grows in all my land is to be sold for his profit.  At my own expense I have provided soil, seed, equipment, and will even employ harvesters to ensure none of it is lost.  Congratulations, my boy:  you will receive all you deserve."

If you could look at the son's face, I imagine he wore an expression so full of regret and disappointment we do well to consider always.  The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof.  We are unworthy to be numbered among God's children, but He is gracious and good.  He has provided everything pertaining to life and godliness.  He has a full reward set aside for us that is better than money that perishes.  The question is, are we working in a way worthy of receiving it?  Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."  May we be faithful sons and daughters that persevere in obedience, faithful to serve our Saviour as He did the Father.  Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."  Let our lives be marked with integrity for God's glory, for such will receive a full reward.

Faith and Victory

The Bible is full of truth, layer upon layer.  The more I consider and study it, the basic and fundamental themes grow more profound.  I find myself increasingly amazed by the power and simplicity of the Gospel.  God's love and grace is a revelation of not only His goodness towards us, but to guide how we live.  The world has hijacked terms like "love" and "peace" for worldly pursuits, and these feeble caricatures bear no resemblance to the abundant provision God supplies for those who trust in Him.

After Jesus miraculously fed a crowd of thousands, they returned the following day hoping for more food.  Jesus told them not to work for food which perishes but for what would provide them eternal life.  The Jews asked Jesus, "How can we do the works of God?"  John 6:29 says, "Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  The good work Jesus spoke of was to believe Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah, the Bread of Life come down from heaven:  all who partake of Him through faith will be born again and have eternal life.  Men are not saved by good works, but those who trust in Jesus are to enter into the good works He has prepared for us, that we would love God with all our hearts and love others as He loves us.

Walking in God's love is a good work all believers are called to, and it should be no surprise the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 begins with love.  It is not a coincidence we need to breathe oxygen to live on earth, and God created an atmosphere on earth with the perfect balance of oxygen to support humans and all living things.  One percent less oxygen and the air would be deficient of oxygen, and one percent more and the atmosphere would be oxygen enriched and volatile!  God is wise to supply all our needs through the Holy Spirit who indwells and enables us to do what we are called to.  It requires faith in God to obey Him and forgive others, to exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness, and self-control.  Faith in Jesus is not just the starting point but what enables us to continue and persevere.  Paul wrote in Roman 14:22, "...whatsoever is not of faith is sin."  Simple faith in God works and overcomes all.

See the prevalence of love and faith in the Christian experience in 1 John 5:1-5:  "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  The victory provided by faith in Jesus is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of grace.  Jesus has given us the command to love others as He loves us, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  With the Holy Spirit within us we overcome the world - not because of our might, power, love or wisdom - but by faith in Jesus.  Selah!