I surrender all ???

Hello again blog world, it has been a log time since I posted (this is Shaun btw). So we were in sunday school this AM and the song "I surrender all" was played. I always struggle with this song. For better or worse I constantly think of the words of the songs that are sung and wonder what the author was thinking or feeling when the song was written. This is one of the few songs that I have a problem with singing; mostly because I don't surrender all, and singing this convicts me of that. I wondered what the Bible had to say about this word that I know that I don't practice. I am sure I surrender the fact that I will never be independantly wealthy and able to quit my job and pursue what I want when I want. Sure I surrender the fact that I will never play in the NFL or MLB (as perhaps I dreamed as a child). But am I am willing to surrender my position on an issue when I find that Rachel is on the other side of that issue. Am I willing to surrender what I want to do in favor of what my wife and child want to do. Am I willing to surrender my career and not look for another job as I have very much been contemplating over the last few months. I wonder what other things that I am not willing to surrender to God that this song could bring so much conviction into my life. I mean I can only say that I want to surrender these sorts of things about 30% of the time. The other 70% I want to push and push until my way is the victorious one and then I want to sit and revel at how great my decision was; regardless of what was lost in my victory.

With these things in mind I became resolute that I would see what the scriptures said, so when we got home I got on http://www.blueletterbible.org/ which is where I do much of my major studying (the Word). I searched the word surrender and was met with a huge surprise. In the New Testament you will NEVER find this word (outside of 2 versions NIV and NASB and they both use it in 1 Cor. 13:3). Here is a look at the verse in the NKJV: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. and now in the NASB: And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Humm giving up as opposed to surrendering, yet a new question arises, what is the difference? So I looked at the Greek to see the original word paradidōmi. The definition falls much closer to freely giving. Still the question is there: what is the difference? That is where I leave it in the hands of those of you that wish to comment.