Commitment is not a word we use lightly. We talk about commitment to marriage, to family, to work, and to causes we care about. But when it comes to following Jesus Christ, commitment means something far deeper than simple loyalty or good intentions.
True commitment to Christ is a full surrender of our lives—our hearts, our minds, our priorities, and our comfort—into His hands.
What Does Commitment Really Mean?
At its most basic level, commitment means dedication. It means investing our time, energy, and resources into something we believe is valuable. But Scripture takes this idea further.
The apostle Paul describes commitment as an act of entrustment:
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
The word Paul uses for “committed” means to deposit or entrust something valuable for safekeeping. In other words, Paul placed his life—his identity, his future, his very soul—into the hands of Jesus Christ, trusting Him completely.
That kind of commitment always involves sacrifice and often involves suffering. You cannot separate genuine discipleship from discomfort. If following Jesus costs us nothing, we should honestly ask whether we are truly following Him at all.
Dying to Self, Living in Christ
Paul explains what he entrusted to Christ in Galatians 2:20:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
Commitment to Christ means dying to self. It means surrendering control. It means allowing Christ—not our desires, preferences, or comforts—to govern our lives.
This is where many of us struggle. We want Jesus, but we also want control. We want faith, but we also want comfort. Yet Scripture makes it clear: we cannot have both.
The Danger of Comfort and Self-Sufficiency
Throughout Scripture, God warns His people about becoming too comfortable.
In the book of Amos, God rebukes Israel for living “at ease” while ignoring their spiritual condition. Their lives were filled with luxury, entertainment, and indulgence—but empty of urgency, discipline, and devotion.
Jesus delivers a similar warning to the church in Laodicea:
“You say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
Self-sufficiency blinds us to our need for Christ. When comfort becomes our god, commitment to Jesus fades into the background.
Loving God With All That We Are
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave a clear and demanding answer:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
This is not partial devotion. This is not compartmentalized faith. The word all leaves no room for leftovers.
- Heart – our affections and desires
- Soul – our very existence
- Mind – our thoughts, values, and focus
- Strength – our actions, energy, and discipline
Whatever holds our attention ultimately holds our heart. What we focus on reveals what we love.
Attention, Discipline, and the Christian Life
The modern world constantly fights for our attention—news, entertainment, social media, endless distractions. None of these things are inherently evil, but they become dangerous when they replace God as our focal point.
Scripture calls us to discipline, not indulgence:
“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest… I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)
Small decisions matter. Lack of discipline in ordinary moments weakens us in spiritual battles. Faithfulness in the little things shapes faithfulness in the big ones.
Leaving What Is Behind to Gain Christ
Paul describes commitment as a forward-moving pursuit:
“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal.” (Philippians 3:13–14)
To follow Christ fully, Paul walked away from identity, status, relationships, and accomplishments he once treasured. He did not do this because those things were worthless—but because they stood in the way of knowing Christ more deeply.
Anything that keeps us from fully knowing Jesus must be treated as loss, no matter how valuable it once seemed.
The Call to True Commitment
Commitment to Christ is not about perfection. It is not about earning salvation. It is about love, gratitude, and surrender in response to the mercy of God.
Jesus does not ask for part of us. He asks for all of us.
And the truth is this:
You can lose everything and have Christ—and still have everything you truly need.
The question remains for each of us:
What are you really living for?