Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. . . even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps. 90:1-2, 9-12, NKJV

Principles of Commitment Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Prov. 16:3)

Principles of Commitment 1. Purpose A. Want to avoid, receive, give B. Have to avoid, receive, give II. Priority A. God created a world full of choices and commitments 1. work, rest, kinds and degrees of pleasure, kinds and degrees of pain, constant learning (world, others, self) all affect what commitments we do and do not pursue. 2. When God made man and woman, He opened up a new series of commitments, requiring man to learn the right priorities a. though this made life more challenging it also made life more enjoyable and beneficial. b. Gen. 3:6-7 A/E failed to rightly prioritize God, spouse, and self, leading to sin and etc consequences. c. God’s blessings fill the home that rightly prioritizes God, my spouse, and myself. 3. When God revealed His plan for worship, He again presented man with the challenge of priorities a. this gave man the duty of making the right commitment---and again, the goal was to enrich our lives. b. Gen. 4:3-5 When Cain failed to prioritize God’s instructions about worship, all his family was affected. c. When individuals today imitate Cain in their approach to worship, the consequences spread to others. B. We must commit to who or what will always be first Mt. 6:24a 1. God or wealth Mt. 6:24b 2. God or parents (or children) Mt. 10:37 3. God or self Mt. 16:24 C. What is first, determines what is 2-3-4-5. . . 1. When God is first, others are next (family, brethren, neighbors, all men), self Mt. 22:37-39 2. Wealth is never really first—people who put money ahead of God usually love themselves or others most. 3. When my parents or children are first, God can still be an important and regular part of my life but when there is a conflict between what God and family wants, I serve my family (ask Abraham-Sarah-Hagar). 4. When I am first, God and family can be very influential but when there is a conflict. . . (ask Nadab, Abihu). D. God prepares us for these conflicts by teaching how to prioritize our commitments---both “wants” [marriage, children, optional education/work, recreation] and “needs” [God, family, work, etc]. E. Typically, we make and prioritize commitments according to value---

Principles of Commitment 2. Priority A. God made a world of choices B. Who will be first? Mt. 6:24; 10:37; 16:24 C. Who is first determines who is second. . . II. Priority A. God created a world full of choices and commitments 1. work, rest, kinds and degrees of pleasure, kinds and degrees of pain, constant learning (world, others, self) all affect what commitments we do and do not pursue. 2. When God made man and woman, He opened up a new series of commitments, requiring man to learn the right priorities a. though this made life more challenging it also made life more enjoyable and beneficial. b. Gen. 3:6-7 A/E failed to rightly prioritize God, spouse, and self, leading to sin and etc consequences. c. God’s blessings fill the home that rightly prioritizes God, my spouse, and myself. 3. When God revealed His plan for worship, He again presented man with the challenge of priorities a. this gave man the duty of making the right commitment---and again, the goal was to enrich our lives. b. Gen. 4:3-5 When Cain failed to prioritize God’s instructions about worship, all his family was affected. c. When individuals today imitate Cain in their approach to worship, the consequences spread to others. B. We must commit to who or what will always be first Mt. 6:24a 1. God or wealth Mt. 6:24b 2. God or parents (or children) Mt. 10:37 3. God or self Mt. 16:24 C. What is first, determines what is 2-3-4-5. . . 1. When God is first, others are next (family, brethren, neighbors, all men), self Mt. 22:37-39 2. Wealth is never really first—people who put money ahead of God usually love themselves or others most. 3. When my parents or children are first, God can still be an important and regular part of my life but when there is a conflict between what God and family wants, I serve my family (ask Abraham-Sarah-Hagar). 4. When I am first, God and family can be very influential but when there is a conflict. . . (ask Nadab, Abihu). D. God prepares us for these conflicts by teaching how to prioritize our commitments---both “wants” [marriage, children, optional education/work, recreation] and “needs” [God, family, work, etc]. E. Typically, we make and prioritize commitments according to value---

Principles of Commitment 3. Value A. How we determine it Lk. 14:28-33 B. How God determines it Right VS Wrong III. Value (Price & Profit) A. Lk. 14:28-33 value is based on what I must give and what I will receive 1. The easiest way is based on our own thoughts-feelings “How will it benefit me or others, now or later?” 2. The right (best, beneficial) way is based on how God values it a. How does God determine value? b. What does God want me to give up and receive, as a result of my commitment? c. What does God want others to gain and lose, as a result of my commitment? B. How does God determine value? 1. Right is always profitable (1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:6; Prov. 23:23; 2 Pet. 1:10) 2. Wrong is always unprofitable (Rom. 6:23) 3. Eternal things are more valuable than temporary things 2 Cor. 4:18 (theme of Ecclesiastes) a. Temporary things offer temporary benefit (money, pleasure, family) b. Eternal things offer eternal benefit (soul, knowledge of truth and people, doing what we learn) 4. Helpful, edifying things are more valuable than what is not helpful, edifying 1 Cor. 10:23 C. In future lessons regarding God’s commitment to us, our commitment to God, our commitment to other individuals, and our commitment to one of His churches, we will learn what God values and--- 1. ...what God wants you and others to give, by these commitments. 2. ...what God wants you and others to receive, by these commitments. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. (1 Jn. 5:4 NKJV) For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, . . .(1 Tim. 4:8 NKJV)

Principles of Commitment 3. Value A. How we determine it Lk. 14:28-33 B. How God determines it Right VS Wrong III. Value (Price & Profit) A. Lk. 14:28-33 value is based on what I must give and what I will receive 1. The easiest way is based on our own thoughts-feelings “How will it benefit me or others, now or later?” 2. The right (best, beneficial) way is based on how God values it a. How does God determine value? b. What does God want me to give up and receive, as a result of my commitment? c. What does God want others to gain and lose, as a result of my commitment? B. How does God determine value? 1. Right is always profitable (1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:6; Prov. 23:23; 2 Pet. 1:10) 2. Wrong is always unprofitable (Rom. 6:23) 3. Eternal things are more valuable than temporary things 2 Cor. 4:18 (theme of Ecclesiastes) a. Temporary things offer temporary benefit (money, pleasure, family) b. Eternal things offer eternal benefit (soul, knowledge of truth and people, doing what we learn) 4. Helpful, edifying things are more valuable than what is not helpful, edifying 1 Cor. 10:23 C. In future lessons regarding God’s commitment to us, our commitment to God, our commitment to other individuals, and our commitment to one of His churches, we will learn what God values and--- 1. ...what God wants you and others to give, by these commitments. 2. ...what God wants you and others to receive, by these commitments. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV) Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. (Pro. 23:23 NKJV)

Principles of Commitment 3. Value A. How we determine it Lk. 14:28-33 B. How God determines it Right VS Wrong III. Value (Price & Profit) A. Lk. 14:28-33 value is based on what I must give and what I will receive 1. The easiest way is based on our own thoughts-feelings “How will it benefit me or others, now or later?” 2. The right (best, beneficial) way is based on how God values it a. How does God determine value? b. What does God want me to give up and receive, as a result of my commitment? c. What does God want others to gain and lose, as a result of my commitment? B. How does God determine value? 1. Right is always profitable (1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:6; Prov. 23:23; 2 Pet. 1:10) 2. Wrong is always unprofitable (Rom. 6:23) 3. Eternal things are more valuable than temporary things 2 Cor. 4:18 (theme of Ecclesiastes) a. Temporary things offer temporary benefit (money, pleasure, family) b. Eternal things offer eternal benefit (soul, knowledge of truth and people, doing what we learn) 4. Helpful, edifying things are more valuable than what is not helpful, edifying 1 Cor. 10:23 C. In future lessons regarding God’s commitment to us, our commitment to God, our commitment to other individuals, and our commitment to one of His churches, we will learn what God values and--- 1. ...what God wants you and others to give, by these commitments. 2. ...what God wants you and others to receive, by these commitments. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; (2 Peter 1:10 NKJV)

Principles of Commitment 3. Value A. How we determine it Lk. 14:28-33 B. How God determines it Right VS Wrong III. Value (Price & Profit) A. Lk. 14:28-33 value is based on what I must give and what I will receive 1. The easiest way is based on our own thoughts-feelings “How will it benefit me or others, now or later?” 2. The right (best, beneficial) way is based on how God values it a. How does God determine value? b. What does God want me to give up and receive, as a result of my commitment? c. What does God want others to gain and lose, as a result of my commitment? B. How does God determine value? 1. Right is always profitable (1 Jn. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:6; Prov. 23:23; 2 Pet. 1:10) 2. Wrong is always unprofitable (Rom. 6:23) 3. Eternal things are more valuable than temporary things 2 Cor. 4:18 (theme of Ecclesiastes) a. Temporary things offer temporary benefit (money, pleasure, family) b. Eternal things offer eternal benefit (soul, knowledge of truth and people, doing what we learn) 4. Helpful, edifying things are more valuable than what is not helpful, edifying 1 Cor. 10:23 C. In future lessons regarding God’s commitment to us, our commitment to God, our commitment to other individuals, and our commitment to one of His churches, we will learn what God values and--- 1. ...what God wants you and others to give, by these commitments. 2. ...what God wants you and others to receive, by these commitments. Eternal VS Temporary 2 Cor. 4:18 Edifying VS Neutral 1 Cor. 10:23

Principles of Commitment Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Prov. 16:3)

What Must I Do To Be Saved? Hear The Gospel (Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (1 Pet. 3:21) For The Erring Child of God Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (1 Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)