Commitment 1~by Idelette McVicker

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.." 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)  

In "Sparkling Gems from the Greek" Rick Renner explains that the word "commit" comes from the Greek compound word paratithimi. When the words para and tithimi are compounded together, creating the word paratithimi, it means to come close in order to make some type of deposit, like a person who goes to the bank to place a deposit into the repository for safekeeping.  

It doesn't require any effort to come alongside someone or something, but not actually make a deposit. It's so much easier to just slide through life: pick up something here, put it down and move on to the next thing. This grazing mentality doesn't bring about an abundant life. Not only are we not depositing of ourselves, we are not receiving what God intended there either. Commitment requires a decision to position ourselves with the people and around the issues we are called to and make our unique and necessary deposit.

Reflect:

Who are you committed to?
What are some of the causes you are committed to?
What deposits have you made?