I Surrender All? That's outrageous!

We sing a lot of things we don't really mean. I have thought many times, "Should I really be singing this? I'm having trouble living it out." There are a great many outrageous claims made in our songs. For instance: "Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold." (For your information, "mite" refers not to a tiny insect, but is an archaic word meaning "a Flemish coin of very small value, a third of a penny.") Have you ever sung this song before? (It's from "Take My Life and Let it Be.") Have you ever withheld something from God that you know he wanted you to give?

Whether referring to money or more generally to giving ourselves to God, what should be our response to these kinds of claims? Should we refrain from singing those verses if we can't fully say we're there yet? Some may feel led to do so, and I respect that choice. I even know one person who will change the lyrics they sing in church to reflect their heart. On the song "The Heart of Worship" there is a line that goes "I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made (worship)," which is a confession that worship has become something it should not have been. This person will sing "I thank you Lord for the thing you've made it" as she sings. This is certainly a creative solution.

However, I want to make a case for "singing outrageous claims." Let me begin by stating that it is only by the grace of God that we can obey him. I believe that even the ability to have faith in Christ is a gift from God. Sure, we need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as he works in our life, but our obedience to God ought to be credited to God himself, not any of our own goodness. In light of that, it is an outrageous claim to say that we are followers of Christ. But we ought to do so, relying on his grace to keep us safe. That's why Jesus says "I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6.39). It is by Jesus' power that we will not be lost.

It is also by the Spirit's power that we can obey him. Again, our role is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, so that we can obey and become more like Christ. So when we say (or sing) "I give myself to Jesus Christ" we are really saying, "Lord, I want to cooperate with you as you desire to work in my life." Seen in this light, "Take my silver and my gold" can mean for me, "Lord, help me to be as generous as you. I want to give whatever you ask of me. Help me to be more in tune with your promptings."

The danger of singing outrageous claims like these is when we sing them, but never intend to fulfill it. When we sing mindlessly or vow to do something without really intending to follow through with it, God is grieved. Ecclesiastes 5.4-5 says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it." If you don't really believe what you're singing, it's better not to sing at all.

Whatever our response, we ought to engage our minds in what we're doing. We ought never shut our minds off when we come to church, or in our private worship. Let's give him all of our emotions, minds, and wills so that he can do beautiful things through us.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to him I freely give
I will ever love and trust him
In his presence daily live