A lack of commitment in our lives as Christians pose probably as big a threat to our spiritual growth and service as anything else. We let too many other things get in our way in our service to God. We need to learn that God will have a total, whole-hearted commitment to him or he will have none at all.

This reminds me of two men who were doing some back-breaking physical labor along a railroad track. The hours were long and hard, and the pay was not the greatest. One day they looked up as a train rolled slowly by, and there was an obviously important car as part of the train. It happened that it was the car carrying the president of the railroad. There he sat – in cool comfort, while the two laborers toiled on. One of them said, “I don’t understand it; he went to work for the railroad the same day as we did, and here we are – working our fingers to the bone, and there he is, riding in comfort. I just don’t get it.” The second man said, “I think you just said it. It is true that we came to the railroad at the same time. But we came to work for the railroad for an hourly wage – he came to work for the railroad – period.”

And so it is. There is a big difference! When we “came to work” for the Lord, was it only for a “stipulated wage,” or did we come to work for the Lord? Our commitment for his cause must be a total one if God is to be pleased. Jesus once said that our duty to God must even supercede physical ties (Matt. 10:37). It certainly must surpass material things in order to be his disciple (Matt. 19:29). And yet our commitment to the Lord sometimes takes the proverbial “back seat” to such things.

What if Jesus had only halfway committed himself to doing the Father’s will? What if he had let other things stand in his way of his great work of redeeming man from sin? The consequences are too terrible to contemplate. Yet when the matter is reversed, and we are called upon to serve him, if something else comes along that we deem to be a priority, our commitment often goes by the wayside. Commitment to the Lord demands a cross – not his cross, but our cross (Matt. 16:24). – Bill Moseley 

The couple sitting in church was filthy rich; had more dollars than Job did sores. But – they were also on the stingy side. As the collection basket started around, the wife notices a sizeable check in her husband’s hand. “Don’t put that in,” she ordered. “Don’t give more than a dollar.” To which the guy replied, “look – Andrew Carnegie gave $4 million for his seat in heaven, and John D. Rockefeller gave $2 million for his by giving to their respective churches. Where in the world do you think I’m gonna sit for a buck?”

Yeah … makes me wonder – “what if God rewarded us based on what we give to him?” And that “giving” might include time, talents and service as well as our money. If such folks as the lady in the story ever make it to heaven, they will likely find themselves in a back corner table in an uncomfortable chair! Anyhow, I’m glad God does not operate this way. But it ought to cause us to stop and measure our giving in whatever area of service may be under consideration. Maybe such thoughts would prompt us to be doing more for the Lord.

If the Bible teaches there will be differences in the “seating arrangements” in heaven, I haven’t read about it. I imagine we will either make it or we won’t! But I’ll tell you one thing I do know – whatever the situation may be, I hope to enjoy it and when I get there I want to occupy a “ringside seat.” Come to think of it, heaven is probably the only place where every seat is a ringside seat! – Bill Moseley