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Lesson #4 It’s All About Me, Is It?

As a Christian Woman with Commitment

In marriage counseling one point that needs to be driven home is commitment. There is a commitment between the couple; another commit-ment between the couple and the state; and the most important commitment between the couple and God.

In courtroom situations one is asked to swear or affirm the truth and that one would speak only the truth. This is affirmation of honesty and integrity. In the midst of a “crooked and perverse nation,” (Phil. 2:15) it is often difficult to overcome the temptations to consider oneself, i.e., selfish-ness, and ignore the practice of commitment, dedication and affirmation toward others. One may make a commitment to herself but treat others with no regard as to keeping promises, not lying, being honest, et. al.

The second President of the United States, (1797-1801) John Adams once said, “There are only two creatures of value on the face of the earth: those with the commitment, and those who require the commitment of others.” Although this is not a direct quotation from the Bible it is a sane and applicable principal. I will use it as a standard along with the Bible passages in this study. Write in your own words what you think President Adams was saying. ________________________________________________________

As a woman who is God-fearing you well understand the concept of keeping a vow, following through with commitment, and allowing others to build trust in you because of your high standards. As we have stressed throughout these lessons as a Christian woman you may be responsible for a family’s welfare, an important aide to your neighbor, or have employees working under you. Circumstances may require “It Being All About You,” regarding your own personal health and spiritual wellbeing. You may be a blessed example to other women who are fellow Christians.

If It is All About Me, and I am to make a personal commitment how does 1 Cor. 6:19-20 help or hinder this understanding? “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” Comment? ____________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

I. Our first thoughts concerning commitment regards the Lord and worship services. – Church attendance requires commitment. At Heb. 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another…” This infers commitment to the Lord and attending worship services with others.

a. Are you committed to not only attending worship services but in so doing encourage others merely by your presence, in song, in prayer, in giving, in communion, in the message preached? __________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. What does Heb. 10:24 say about worshiping with others, i.e., what effect can, or will it have on them? _________________________ ___________________________________________________

c. Can you explain the mothering feeling Jesus offered in Matt. 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

How might this illustrate concern over NON-ATTENDANCE at worship? _____________________________________ ___________________________________________
Who might “Jerusalem” represent here? ________________
If “Jerusalem killed the prophets,” what might this symbolize for us today? _____________________________________ ___________________________________________
Whom might we as Christian women “gather together” in today’s world? _______________________________________ ___________________________________________
Who are the “chickens?” ___________________________ ___________________________________________
Of what significance are the chicken’s wings regarding protec-tion? ________________________________________ ___________________________________________

Although you cannot make a commitment for others, consider the passage of 1 Pet. 3:1-2 regarding this subject, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” What can you do as a Christian woman to encourage another’s commitment to worship? ______________________________ _______________________________________________

e. In our commitment to the Lord, He always comes first.

There is no better explanation of this than in Lk. 14:26-27, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.”
Define the word “hate” as used here. _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

II. The above exercise brings about then this question: What about your commitment as a parent, a “slave” and a “master.” – Let’s look at Eph. 6:1-6, (Read from your Bible).

a. You are a female parent. Your children are to obey you. To what extent do you honor your commitment to be their mother or guardian? ____ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. As a mother your family is to “honor” you. Honor is something that cannot just be given but requires effort on your part to be deserving of it. How might you as a wife, mother, and Christian stimulate and encourage your family to “honor” you? ________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. Eph. 6:3 speaks of your children’s reward as “living long on the earth.” This thought is borrowed from Ex. 20:12 when the Israelites would be going into the Promised Land. Here the idea is more applicable in general. It is based on your children honoring, obeying, loving and complying with you as their source of authority. How does Matt. 10:29-30 help to clarify the meaning of “living long on the earth.” (Consider Providential blessings in your answer). __________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

d. Although “fathers” are specified at Eph. 6:4, as the female counterpart of this team in what ways can you think that you have avoided “provoking your children to wrath?” How do you deal with difficult conversations? _________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

e. Sometimes, even as a Christian woman, you may feel like you are a “slave,” to use the word connotatively.

This word means “one who is bound to render service.”
Although this text might be more inclusive, as a servant to your husband and children what specifics are expected of you? ______________________________________ _________________________________________
What is expected by you? ________________________ _________________________________________
Do you ever consider yourself a “slave” to your husband? Your children, or do you consider it a “blessing” to serve in this capacity? ___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

f. Let us further our study of commitment by analyzing Eph. 6:5 in a more general light.

The text is addressing the slave-master relationship; but you may think of your husband as master of the house. (Note that it is no longer politically correct to use such words as master bedroom. Modern progressives now demand that you call it primary bedroom). Be that as it may most certainly, you honor your Lord as “Master” of your life.
What does the phrase “fear and trembling” mean to you regarding your husband? Your Savior? _______________ _________________________________________________________________________________
What does “singleness of heart,” (Eph. 6:5), mean to you regarding your husband? Regarding Christ? ____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

g. From Eph. 6:6 the Christian woman is do the will of God, i.e., be committed to His will from what? _____________________________

III. As a Christian woman how do you handle the crises and trials that come your way each day? – Each day’s woes may cause us to forget Jesus’ statement at Jn. 15:18, 20, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you…If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.”

This was a setting in the first century that Jesus promised His apostles that the Holy Ghost would be with them.
Even though we do not have direct operation of the Spirit today, we nevertheless have His power working within us through His word. Read Rom. 8:12-17. __________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

a. Have you had to deal with hatred from a neighbor? A coworker? A family member? How do you manage? Are you committed to exercise respect toward all of them? _________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. The apostle Paul put emphasis on what Jesus taught. In 2 Tim. 3:12 he told Timothy, “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Give examples of how you have personally dealt with persecution as a Christian woman. What commitment did this require of you? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. According to Lk. 9:23-24 what should a faithful Christian woman do before “taking up [Jesus’] cross?” “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” What would she do after the initial commitment? _____________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

d. How do these actions, Lk. 9:23-24, describe the true cost of commitment to Christ? ___________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Concluding Thoughts on Commitment:

Do you believe you exercise total commitment to the Lord? __ _________________________________________
If you do not, in what ways would you have to change or improve? ___________________________________ _________________________________________
If you are engaged in total commitment, how might you as a Christian woman encourage your sisters in Christ to do like-wise, e.g., Titus 2:3-5. ___________________________ _________________________________________
Remember Paul’s words to the Philippian church, “For me to live is Christ,” (Phil. 1:21). ________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________