Wisdom For Women
Committed Women
Key Text Verse: Revelation 2:10-“…Be thou faithful unto death…..”

Introduction
Under the series of different kinds of women, we shall mediate on the committed
women. A committed woman is a whole-hearted woman- a dedicated woman. Commitment
is a tied down experience- no turning back experience- Come what may experience-nothing
and no man can move me experience. It is a life-long commitment - a full-time commitment-
an eternal bond- everlasting binding- effectual cementing. Be committed to God in
whatever position He has placed you, irrespective of the situation, person and place
in the family, ministry and secular job. Never look back. Never linger. Never take
back your words of commitment. Paul was committed to the ministry appointed by God.
The virtuous woman found in Proverbs 31 was a woman committed to the God-given
family. Jesus committed Himself to the saving plan of the whole world. He set His
face like a flint in going to the cross. John, the apostle committed himself to
follow the master up to the cross of Calvary when all the other disciples forsook
him. Timothy was committed to Paul as a co-laborer in Christ. Jael was committed
to the task of destroying the enemy in spite of many risks involved. Mary was committed
to the act of listening to the master’s voice. Anna committed herself to the ministry
of fasting and prayer in the synagogue. Esther was committed to the ordeal of saving
her own Jewish nation from their enemies. Nehemiah was committed to the risky work
of building the wall of Jerusalem. He finished the wall in fifty-two days. Eliazer
was committed to the oath given to his master Abraham in choosing the bride for
Isaac. Abraham committed himself to obey God in sacrificing his son, Isaac. Elisha
was committed to the studious act of following Elijah in spite of the opposition
from the sons of the prophets. Dorcus committed herself to the good deed of helping
the poor. The early apostles continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.(ACTS 2:42) Even we,
who are the New testament believers are required to commit ourselves to follow the
master faithfully till the very end.
Ruth and Esther are the only women in the Old Testament who have entire books devoted to them. The book of Ruth tells the story of a Gentile who married a Jew and became an ancestress of the Messiah according to Matthew 1:5. The story of Ruth begins with a famine and ends with the birth of a baby, while the story of Esther begins with a feast and ends with the death of over 75,000 people. God is mentioned twenty-five times in the book of Ruth, but he is not named even once in all the book of Esther! Yet in both books, the will of God is fulfilled and the providential hand of God is clearly seen. Why do we bring these two women together? In spite of their different backgrounds and experiences, both Ruth and Esther were committed to do the will of God and the work of God respectively. Ruth’s reply to Naomi (Ruth 1: 16, 17) is one of the greatest confessions of faith found in Scripture. Esther’s reply to Mordecai (Esther 4:16) reveals a woman willing to lay down her life to save people. Ruth and Esther both summon Christians today to be committed to Jesus Christ and to do His will and His work at any cost. They both point the way to the kind of dynamic and exciting faith, and we do well to follow the example.
Someone said, “A CHURCH MEMBER WHO BELIEVES NOTHING, SAYS NOTHING, DOES NOTHING, AND GIVES NOTHING CAN ACHIEVE NOTHING.”. There are three groups of believers. One group is the non-committal group- not bothered to know what is happening in the church. Second group is the half-committed group. They will commit themselves when the situation is favorable to them. Third group is the fully committed group. They will commit themselves to Christ and His cause at all times even risking their lives.
1. Ruth Was Committed To The Will Of God
2. Mary Was Committed To The Word Of God
3. Esther Was Committed To The Work Of God
1. Ruth Was Committed To The Will Of God
Ruth 1:16-17- “Entreat me not to leave Thee…” our text we read of the whole-hearted commitment of Ruth to Naomi, her mother-in-law, after the death of her husband. It is one of the greatest declarations of commitment found in the Word of God. Dear Sisters, commitment is what is lacking among God's people today. It is lacking in our church but not ours only but in churches all across this country. The word commitment means “The act of devoting oneself unreservedly.” Unreservedly means “With no reservations and with no limitations.”Many Christians today have lost that type of commitment. Commitment is a choice we make. We have lost the spirituality needed to make a major impact on our world. Someone said, “If we are not as spiritual as we could be, we're not as spiritual as we should be.” The question this evening is, “How committed are we to the Lord?” Many Christians today come to church when they want to, give when they want to, and witness when they want to. That is NOT commitment. As I said earlier, true commitment means no reservations and with no limitations. When we read Ruth's response to Naomi we see THE WAY COMMITMENT RESPONDS. Commitment is not running away from your problems just like Naomi did. But you need to face the problem and be committed to do God’s will in the midst of fierce opposition and fiery trials. When Naomi left Bethlehem- Judah, she lacked commitment and dedication in her life. So God could not accomplish His plan through her. Let us note.... Before God changes our circumstances, He wants to operate our hearts to see our commitment to HIM and His will. That is why Job says that even He slays me, yet I will trust in Him. Or in other words he says that he will commit himself to the cause for which He has called him. Naomi was bitter against God, but Ruth was willing for God to have His way in her life. So God began His gracious work with Ruth. Ruth was fully committed and co-operated with God to accomplish the will of God in her life. She was prepared to meet Boaz. She submitted herself to Boaz. She listened to Boaz. She waited for Boaz to work. Commitment involves waiting at God’s presence for His perfect time to work in our lives. Finally we can see the reward of commitment in Ruth’s life. The story opens with Ruth as as outsider and a stranger but it ends with Ruth as a member of the covenant. She committed herself to the will of God in a perfect way. The price she paid for her commitment was indeed very high. The reward of her commitment paid well for the risk involved in her commitment. This is how she committed herself to God’s will. In order to fulfill the will of God, she passed through the following stages. We see Plea, Path, Place, People and Piety of commitment.
(1) The Plea Of Commitment
Ruth 1:16a “ And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to returnfrom following after thee...”
A. The Resolve
Naomi had requested that both Orpah and Ruth go back to their people. I want you to notice the difference between Orpah and Ruth. It tells us in v14 “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” It tells us that “...Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” The difference between mere kindness of manner and self-sacrificing love is most vividly depicted in the words and conduct of the two women. Ruth’s determination is steadfast to cast in her lot with the people of the Lord. Ruth's resolve to follow Naomi led her to tremendous blessing—the blessing of being an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ruth is resolved to follow after Naomi. She is determined to follow Naomi. She is an example for all believers on our commitment we should have in following the Lord. First and foremost Jesus must have the preeminence in our lives. This is not always easy.
B. The Request
We read in Ruth 1:16—“And Ruth said, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee.” Naomi requested that Ruth go back to Moab, but Ruth is determined to stay with Naomi. She was not going to be deterred from following Naomi. She tells Naomi, “Stop asking me to go back to Moab.” This is how we should handle Satan's temptations to serve the flesh instead of follow the Savior. We must resolve to never be deterred nor distracted from following the will of the Lord and seeking His way.
(2) The Path Of Commitment- Ruth 1:16b “...for whither thou goest, I will go...”
A. No Matter If The Way Is Difficult
Ruth told Naomi, “Whither thou goest, I will go...”. Ruth is committed to going with Noami. Whether the path is smooth or rough, easy or difficult, or long or short, she will follow Naomi. Some today change paths when the way gets hard. An acceptable commitment to God requires steadfastness regardless of the difficulties of the path. It means going on exerting extra effort, facing excruciating sufferings, and meeting troubles and challenges head-on. The old hymn says, I would follow Jesus anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
B. No Matter If The Way Is Dangerous
Ruth was not going to let fear Of the unknown keep her from following Naomi. Many today fail to follow the Lord completely because they fear the unknown. They fear what might lie ahead. Someone said, “Better to face danger once than to be always in fear.”
(3) The Place Of Commitment-Ruth 1:16c--”and where thou lodgest, I will lodge...”
A. There Are No Conditions.
Ruth was willing to stay with Naomi wherever she dwelt with no conditions whatsoever. Ruth did not stay with Naomi if it was a nice place or a safe place but “where thou lodgest, I will lodge...”. Ruth “said that no matter where the dwelling was or what kind it was, there she would lodge with Naomi.” Friends, this is the kind of commitment the Lord desires of every believer. We have a poor commitment if we only serve the Lord when the place is convenient.
B. There Are No Complaints
Many say they will follow the Lord anywhere but yet they complain about the place the Lord has led them. If the Lord calls us to a particular place we can be rest assured that He will provide us what we need at that place. Many church members today complain so much about where their church is located that they have no commitment to the mission field God has placed them in. FOCUS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES INSTEAD OF THE OBSTACLES. Someone pointed out: “Obstacles are those frightful things we see when we take our eyes off our goal.”
4) The People Of Commitment-Ruth 1:16d—“...thy people shall be my people...”
A. They Associate With God's People
Ruth wanted to be part of Naomi's family. Ruth wanted to be described as a member of Naomi’s family. And she knew the requirement was to go to Israel and live with Naomi. If you want to be described as a Christian, you will need to associate with Christians. Some want to be called Christian but do not want to separate from the world.
Committed People:
Go To Their Church
Committed people don't have to be begged, badgered, or bribed into associating with God's people. I love what someone said, “If your religion doesn't take you to church, it is doubtful if it will take you to heaven.” Commitment to christ should go hand in hand with commitment to his church.
Grow In Their Consecration
Consecration means “Set apart, devoted, and dedicated” Committed people grow daily in their devotion and dedication to the Lord and the Lord's will for their lives.
Give Through Compassion
Christians show what they are, by what they do, with what they have.
B. They Act With God's People
Ruth said, “...thy people shall be mypeople, and thy God my God.” Ruth was a Moabitess and a worshipper ofidols. Ruth says, “I renounce those idols which my sister hath returned to,and I wilt worship no other God but thine, who is indeed the only true God.”
Committed People:
Worship With God's People
The psalmist says that the saints should—“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him,and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:2-4).
Work With God's People
If we are committed to the Lord we will realize that we are part of something bigger. In the church it is not ME but US! When the church comes together with the unity of the spirit and mind then God can truly bless us! Paul told the church at Philippi—“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”(Philippians 1:27).
(5) The Piety Of Commitment Ruth 1:16e “...and thy God my God...”
A. The Definition Of Piety
Piety means “Reverence toward God godliness”
Ruth no longer reverenced the pagan gods of the Moabites but reverenced Naomi's God—the TRUE GOD! Evidently Naomi's testimony for God was of such a nature that Ruth chose the God of Naomi instead of the gods of her people. Friends, the question naturally arise, “When people see us do they want what we have?
Does our lives create a desire for our God?”
B. The Demand Of Piety
To demand something means “To ask for boldly;to have need for; require.”
This is the most important part of Ruth's commitment. She declares—“...thy God my God.” She is making a clean and complete break from the idols of Moab to follow the TRUE GOD. In the same way, we need to mark a line of demarcation between the worldly things and the spiritual things. Friends, there is nothing more important in our lives than our relationship to God! Here is the underlying reason for everything. "This is the supreme decision for Ruth. This was the primary point and the highest affirmation of the seven statements that Ruth made" (McGee)...Ruth was making a dramatic decision in the most important area of her life here...She was forsaking Baal and Chemosh and following Jehovah God. It was her greatest decision. For example Joshua.
2. Mary Was Committed To The Word Of God
Luke 10:39- “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.”
In verse 42, Jesus commended her saying that one thing is needful, and hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Mary hath chosen the good part which will not be taken away from her. She sat at the feet of Jesus and committed herself in order to listen to the words of Jesus. Her we see the attendance and the importance that Mary, the sister of Martha gave upon the word of Christ. Verse 20. She heard His word. Since Christ is forward to speak, we should be swift to hear. She sat to hear, which denotes her full commitment. Her mind was composed, and she resolved not to catch a word now and then, but to receive all that Christ delivered. If we sit with him at his feet now, we shall sit with him on his throne shortly. Have you given yourself to the Bible which is the most precious book in the whole world. A song goes on like this- Me and my Bible we will travel together. The BIBLE- Let it in. Let it out. Live it up. Go to your Bible regularly, open it prayerfully, read it expectantly and live it joyfully. Be committed to read the word of God. What is the Bible? Bible is a guide to man. Bible is a living book. It is a repository of Truth. It is a repository of wealth. It is a priceless treasure. Bible is a fruitful garden.
A Thumbprint On The Bible Is More Important Than a Footprint On The Moon.
The following illustrates three ways of reading the Bible, and only one way of reading it so that the reader may get to know it and derive benefit from it. The late H.P. Barker, a master of illustrations, described three things he saw in a garden among the plants and flowers. The first object was a butterfly that alighted on an attractive flower, sat for a second or two, then moved on to another, seeing and touching many lovely blossoms but deriving no benefit from them. Next came a Botanist with a large notebook and a microscope. He spent some time over each flower and plants and made copious notes of each. But when he had finished, his knowledge was shut away in his book. Very little of it remained in his mind. Then a busy bee came along, entering a flower here and there and spending some time in each, but emerging from each flower laden with pollen. It went in empty and came out full.
There are those who read the Bible, going from one favorite passage to another, but getting little from their reading. Others really study and make notes, but do not really get to know the teachings of the Scriptures. Others like the bee, spend time over the Word, read, mark and inwardly digest it. And it feeds their minds with wisdom and their lives with heavenly sweetness. (Ps. 9:10, John 7:17, 2 Peter1:2, 3) In order to be committed or addicted to the Bible, the word of God, we need to know the value and the worth of the Bible. The Bible is like a magnificent palace constructed of precious oriental stone, comprising of stately chambers. It is an incomparable, majestic and glorious book.
Illustration
A young Italian girl sat at a fruit stand intently absorbed in reading a small book. A gently man pausing to get some fruit, asked her what she was reading with so much interest. She replied rather timidly, “The Word of God, sir.” But he was an atheist. But he said, who told you the Bible was the Word of God? With childish simplicity she replied, “God told me Himself”. “God told you impossible! How did he tell you? You have never seen Him nor talked with Him, How could He tell you? For a few moments the girl was confused and silent. Then looking up, she said respectfully, ‘Sir, who told you there is a sun in the sky up there? The gentleman replied, rather contemptuously. Who told me? No body. I don’t need to be told. The sun tells this about itself. It warms me. I love its light’. And the young Italian girl earnestly answered, ‘You have put it right Sir, for the sun and the Bible. I read it. It warms my heart. It gives me light. I love its warmth and light. None but God could give the light and warmth I get from this book’. And he turned away quietly, abashed by her simple faith. He knew one thing. Nobody can separate the girl from the Bible.
Be committed to mediate the word of God. Psalmist life was blessed because of his daily meditation. Be committed to obey the word of God. Eve’s life was destroyed by her disobedience to the word of God. Be committed to practice the word of God. Jesus committed himself to put into practice whatever he preached. Be committed to present the word of God. Paul preached the word in spite of prison experiences, threatening, oppositions and accusations.
What is the usefulness of the Bible? When I am tired, the Bible is my bed. In the dark, it is my light. When I am hungry, it is my bread. When I am sick, it is my medicine. If I am ignorant, it is my school. If I am sin, it is solid ground. If I am cold, the Bible is my fire. Since thus thou givest of thyself to me. How I should give myself, to thee, O great book? For example, Lydia, the purple-seller was saved in one of the meetings held by Paul.
Her faith was born through hearing the word of God. She didn’t commit herself to the task of trusting and obeying God’s word. Colossians 1:25- “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the word of God”. Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 20:9-“…..But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones..”
3. Esther Was Committed To The Work Of God
Esther 4:16-“And If I perish, I perish” These are the words of commitment by Esther. She plunged herself into the work of God by destroying the Jews. Saving souls for the Kingdom of God is the best ministry we can do unto the Lord. Some of the souls are in the clutches of the evil one. Some souls have received the death sentence. Some souls are heading towards hell. Some souls are in the mouth of the lion, the crafty enemy. Some souls are the enemies of the cross. To tell you the fact, the main essence of God’s work is to plunder Hell and populate Heaven. For this we need to destroy the works of the evil one. The word of God says that the Son of man was revealed to destroy the works of the evil one. Esther by yielding herself to the hazardous task of delivering the Jews, she left no stone unturned to fulfill the same. She decided to fast and pray. She was willing to go to the presence of the King uninvited. She committed herself to change the decree of the King. She yielded herself to the Lord and was used by God to accomplish great things. On the whole, the work of God includes two major parts. One is delivering the people. The other is destroying the works of Satan.
Mordecai insisted upon that whatever hazard she might face, she must apply to the King in this great affair. V. 13&14. - He suggested to her,
1. It was her own case, for that the decree to destroy all the Jews did not exclude her.
2. That it was a cause which, one way or rather, would certainly be carried, and which therefore she might safely venture in.
3. If she deserted her own people, through cowardice and unbelief, she cannot save herself. We should every one of us consider for what end God puts us in the place where we are, and, when any particular opportunity of serving God and our generation offers itself, we must take care that we do not let it slip. These things Mordecai urges to Esther. On hearing the plight of the Jews, Esther committed to the plan of God by rising up to the occasion. The Godly counsel of the spiritual leaders and the believers’ active participation in the work of God will fetch us tremendous results.
Esther hereupon resolved, whatever it might cost her, to apply to the King, but not until she and her maidens had applied unto God. She said, when we have sought God in this matter, according to God’s law I will venture .If I perish, I perish. I cannot lose my life in a better cause. She acted with strong resolution and determination. Her commitment was a binding commitment. In fulfilling the work of God, she committed herself by her willingness to even lay down her life. No man having put his hand upon the plough and turns back is fit for the Kingdom of God. In ministry, there is no quitting. There is no regretting. There is no turning back. Nowadays people leave the ministry so easily. They initially confess that they have been called to do a particular ministry. As time goes by, they lose the zeal for God. They venture into some other ministry for which they have not been called. The spirit of pride creeps in. The spirit of independence grabs them. They fall away from their calling. They lack commitment in their lives. Some speak high sounding words of faith like Peter in Matthew 26:33 “And Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended of Thee, yet I will never be offended”. But he was sleeping with all other disciples in the garden of Gethsemane. He was slack in the ministry of prayer. Since he lacked commitment, Peter denied Jesus three times. We should not do the work of God to please men. Ephesians 6:6 “Not with eye service, as men-pleasers but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”.
Friend, let me ask you, “Are you devoted to the Lord? Are you committed? Do you need to be?” Let us pray we will always give our ALL to the Lord!