An American pastor, Adrian Rogers, once met with a Romanian pastor, Josef Tson, soon after he survived persecution in Communist Romania. Rogers asked of Tson’s perspective on American Christianity. He said the emphasis on commitment is not good. They didn’t even have an equivalent Romanian translation for ‘commitment’. He said the word they use is ‘surrender.’

Interestingly, the word ‘commitment’ didn’t come into common usage in America until the 1960s. Ironically, prior to ‘commitment’ the word used was ‘surrender.’

What is the difference between commitment and surrender? When you make a commitment, you are still in charge. But when you surrender, you give up control. If someone holds a gun on you, you don’t tell that person what you’re committed to. You surrender and do as you are told. We love commitment because we are still in control. But surrender is a key factor to connect with God.

Everyone eventually surrenders to something. If not to God, you will surrender to the expectations of others, to money, to fear, or to your own pride. You were designed to worship God. If you fail to worship Him, you will create other things to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free of the consequences of that choice

Jesus once met a rich ruler who wanted to do something to receive eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all he had and follow Him. The man refused. Below is the Biblical story:

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth upNow when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

If we want eternal life, we must surrender all and follow Jesus.

Eternal life is not a reward for good behavior.

The rich man addressed Jesus as ‘good teacher’ and asked what to do to inherit eternal life. He saw eternal life as something a person could earn through good works.

At the RCA Building on 5th Avenue in NYC is a statue of Atlas, muscles straining to hold the world on his shoulders. On the other side of 5th Avenue is Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Behind the altar is a shrine of the boy Jesus. With no effort He is holding the world in one hand. We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, ‘I surrender, Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world.’

Jesus listed 5 of the 10 commandments to this man. He only questioned commandments about human relationships. He omitted God’s prohibition not to covet and the first four regarding our relationship with God. Though Jesus did not criticize the rich man’s good works, his good works weren’t good enough. Eternal life is not a reward; it is a gift.

Eternal life is the result when we surrender all.

Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had, give it to the poor, then follow Him. He refused. Jesus knew that this man loved his possessions more than he loved God. He was not as good a man as he thought. He was unwilling to surrender what he had for eternal life.

In the Old Testament, the story of the old man Abraham provides an interesting parallel to this young man. Abraham was wealthy and his true wealth was represented by his son, Isaac. So God tested him – surrender your son. Abraham said ‘Yes’ and was willing to sacrifice his son for God. God was first and Abraham showed it. Yet, God did not allow him to carry through.

It is sad, but the rich man came to the right person, asked the right question, received the right answer, but made the wrong decision. He may be the only man who came to Jesus and went away worse than when he came. He refused to surrender.

Jesus is not saying that everyone must sell all they have and give the proceeds to the poor. Neither is He teaching that riches automatically prevent someone from receiving eternal life. What He is emphasizing is that a person must surrender all they have to receive eternal life. 

Surrender is hard. Jesus often asks us to surrender what is valuable to us: our money, our reputation, our leisure. If it was easy to surrender, everyone would be doing it.

Someone once said to David Livingstone, thinking of the trials he had endured and the sorrows he had endured, of how he lost his wife and ruined his health as a missionary to Africa, “What sacrifices you have made!” Livingstone answered, “Sacrifices? I never made a sacrifice in my life.”

The one thing you are most reluctant to give up is probably the one thing that has the potential to become a substitute for God. When you finally surrender that one thing, you will discover a joy that has always been missing.

Surrender your life to Jesus for salvation and eternal life. If you have already surrendered your life for salvation, surrender your time, talent and treasure to Jesus. Surrender is not a one-time event. Surrender is a lifetime opportunity to show that Jesus is first place in your life.

During World War 2, General Douglas MacArthur had a meeting with a Japanese general to officially surrender. The Japanese leader stuck out his hand to shake MacArthur’s hand. MacArthur said, “I cannot shake your hand until you first surrender your sword. We can’t be friends as long as that sword is hanging by your side. Give me the sword and then we’ll shake hands.” Many want to shake God’s hand while carrying a sword, the sword of a personal will. We must surrender to God before we can be in complete fellowship with Him.