What are your hopes and desires? Many in the United States and the Western world enjoy great blessings and have much to live with. Sadly, many don't have that much to live for.The wise King Solomon moaned, "All is vanity."

Sixty million Americans are overweight. The ballooning of America may be indicative of a malaise that strangles true success. I doubt if most people want to carry the extra pounds. It just sort of happens-much like a lot of life.

Why are some people able to achieve more fulfillment and deal with the ups and downs of life? Perhaps there are keys that predict why some have a more meaningful life.

Ability to Make a Commitment

What do you want to do with your life? We all need dreams and goals. Ready-made entertainment and distractions can easily fill the vacuum of a day, week, month and, eventually, a life. If your goals aren't clear and powerful, they will drown in the sea of distractions around you like so many pieces of driftwood.

Make a Commitment

It is rare to find people who stay with a house, car, job or even a marriage for too long in the frenetic pace of this modern era. With so many options and an urge to try the new, it is easy to abort plans and dreams. Technology marches ahead and you are often out of date before you start. Perhaps societal changes affect our ability to stay with a plan. A few years ago, when outlining a baptismal counseling class, I realized I had to add a step in teaching about making a commitment. That was how to gain the ability to make one! Sadly, many are too influenced by the world around them, and staying a course (any course) is difficult.

Four hundred years ago America's forefathers were driven by a dream of religious freedom and embarked on the adventure of their lifetime. They sought for a New World and new way of life. A transatlantic voyage was risky at best with the threat of sickness, bad weather and hostile Indians. When the United States began there were very trying tests that could have discouraged even the most valiant. John Adams wrote to his wife and trusted confidante, Abigail, after the signing of the Declaration of Independence: "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see the end is worth more than all the means" (The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel, 1977 p. i).

Anything worthwhile takes planning and commitment to bring success. That means avoiding distractions and not caving in to the pressures and trials that can derail the best of intentions. You first need to ask the question, "What is important to me?" Then commit your resources and time to learning and accomplishing this goal or dream.

Make the Commitment

Commitments need conviction coupled with a resolve to stay the course, no matter what happens. When some wanted to be disciples of Christ, they were told to count the cost. Two examples are worth mentioning: "If a man starts to build a house and only gets the foundations laid and then discovers he lacks the resources to finish it, he will be mocked for poor planning" (paraphrased from Luke 14:28-30 ). Another example was of declaring war on an enemy and, after the battle begins, realizing you are outnumbered. It is too late to say you were kidding (verses 31-32).

Real commitment takes the determination to stay the course through any adversity! Christ also said that anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:62 ). This same attitude works for a career or a relationship.

Keeping the Commitment

Once you start a worthy project, the challenge is to see it to the end! Good intentions and fair-weather sailors abound. Perhaps the most important area to think about commitment is in the really important matter of life itself. Where are you headed? Is life more than vanity and just passing of time? Do you want to be more driftwood in the sea of life? God has offered the gift of eternal life to those who are willing and able to make a commitment of living a life based on conviction. Christ set the example for man by living as a mortal on the earth in the midst of the temptations common to all. We are challenged to follow His example and build a life with concern for others rather than just ourselves. The amazing discovery is that this commitment gives meaning and direction in a world that is hectic and confusing.

Can you make a lifelong commitment? How about making one that will make your life a real success? For more information on commitment, read Making Life Work and Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion. Let us know if you would like a free copy of these booklets. UN