COMMITMENT OR CONTRIBUTION

Text: Matthew 1:1, 18-25

Facing the Fear of Commitment

When it comes to the really big things in life - the stuff God’s handed you...

Either you will be committed or you will be merely making a contribution.

I know there are some things in my life that I should be contributing to, but instead, I’m committed to them. There are other things I am committed to when I should at best be contributing to.

Here are 5 rules which should deepen our level of commitment.

COMMITMENT IS FOCUSED ON GOD’S ____________________, NOT OURS

The very first verse of the gospel reads, “a record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ  the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Joseph was the conduit between the history of the Hebrew people and the salvation of the world.

In other words, God got him into this thing.

You know, the things in life that are most important are things that God got you into.

COMMITMENT WILL ALWAYS REQUIRE AN ELEMENT OF _________________

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:18-19)

COMMITMENT IS OFTEN MADE IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S ___________________

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  (Matthew 1:20)

COMMITMENT IS ALWAYS PRECEDED BY A HEALTHY _______________

A couple things we can learn from Joseph about healthy fear.

- If God says it, I’m going to do it.

- If it’s the right thing to do, do it!

- If you are unsure about either perhaps your fear is more of a warning not to do it than a nudge to do it.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus... (Matthew 1:21)

“She will give birth to a son.”

“You are to give him the name Jesus” 

COMMITMENT DOESN’T GUARANTEE ____________________ - BUT GOD DOES.

...because he will save his people from their sins." (21b)

Joseph never lived to see what became of his commitment.

 CONCLUSION

Now I want you to notice what Joseph does.

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)

He did what the angel of the Lord had commanded

IT WAS ALL ABOUT COMMITMENT NOT CONTRIBUTION