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In high school, I played the female lead, Laurie, in the iconic country-themed musical, Oklahoma. It took place in the latter part of the 1800s, and part of the plot included two love interests, Will Parker and Ado Annie. During a particular scene, they are conversing about their potential future together. But Will had some grave concerns. He had recently heard local rumors of Annie’s shenanigans—choices she made that would put any relationship in jeopardy. Because of these rumors, it becomes vital that Will makes it clear where he stands and asks the same of her. So, he draws a line in the sand with the following expectations; he sings these lines:
With me it’s all er nuthin’.
Is it all er nuthin’ with you?
It cain’t be “in between”
It cain’t be “now and then”
No half-and-half romance will do!
In this episode of Sunday Spice, I’ll use this idea of “all in” as a means to challenge us on our spiritual journey and the priorities that such a journey demands of us.
No half-and-half romance will do! Most people understand this. There’s nothing praiseworthy about a relationship between a man and his wife if one or both are not all the way in; two people giving 100% and bringing their best to the interchange is the standard. To compromise this relationship is to insult their marriage and bring a negative reflection upon marriage in general, which finds its origin in God Himself.
But there is another relationship that the Bible brings to light contained in the idea of God, who loves us dearly, where He asks that we, too, give our all to Him.
As is always the case God initiates the idea of the relationship. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. While we were not even interested, not even engaged in seeking Him, or honoring Him; when we didn’t even welcome Him, Christ went ahead and died for us anyway. He died for the very people who called for His death, He sacrificed Himself for the very people who scourged Him unmercifully; and for those who drove the nails in His hands and feet. He died for those who denied Him even while dying for those very people on the cross.
And He did not hold Himself back; He gave His all for all of us. Romans 8:32 says so: “He did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.”
More of this idea is contained in a verse from 2 Corinthians 5 “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
Here is where we start addressing our side of the relationship. If He proved Himself in such fashion, by dying for us, then we are compelled to do something in response to that act of love. Think about it; if someone dies for you to the point of saving your life then isn’t there an ethic that makes a demand of you to do something in return? In this case, the verse says that he died for all, therefore those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them.
And if you are arrested by this fact that Jesus died for all; for you; for me; then doesn’t something compel you (some higher ethic) to reciprocate and give your life to Him? If you recognize the redemptive death of Jesus on your behalf, then this very act of love draws you to Himself and calls for a response.
It’s all or nothing.
I suppose God could have left us alone and done nothing. But He didn’t. He gave His all. And if your relationship, my relationship, with Him is to remain healthy then His commitment makes a call to us to rise to the same level. It calls for all the qualities that make relationships strong and purposeful. The good thing is that we have Him to draw on for the strength and the focus and the grace that we need to become a responsible partner in the relationship. “It cain’t be ‘in between’ It cain’t be ‘now and then,’ no half and half romance will do.”
And to use a Bible term; it can’t be lukewarm. Revelations 3:15-16 says: “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
If you’re like me there are some drinks I like hot and some drinks I like cold. But I no longer enjoy either of those drinks when each becomes lukewarm.
And the apostle John’s warning in 1 John 2 says: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
If we are walking and holding hands with God, we can’t hold hands with the world at the same time.
A life of mutual commitment makes for the kind of relationship that works and works well; but anything that represents compromise, carnality, or worldliness puts that relationship in danger.
I can’t claim this is what God says to us exactly, but I think you’ll understand my point. Could God be asking each of us: With Me it’s all er nuthin’. Is it all er nuthin’ with you?
I’m Tammy Reneé, and this is Sunday Spice. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed are the people who take refuge in Him!
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