CHAPTER 6
COMMITMENT
The Concise Oxford Dictionary describes ‘commitment’ as ‘engagement that restricts freedom of action’, in other words, when we have set our course we will not allow anything to side-track or disrupt our progress. We will be focussed on the result, the target or destination.
In a world where ‘freedom’ is the watch word, the definition of commitment is contrary to that which we are taught, perhaps that is why there are so few people that can fill leadership roles today. Life’s new password is trying something new and in the end nothing gets done.
Being committed to one thing, means exactly that, engaging in one activity to the exclusion of all else. The act of committing oneself is in itself an expression of freedom; it is doing that which you want to do, and not allowing anyone or anything to distract you from your course. Yes, you may give up your freedom to do other things, but you maintain the freedom to choose to do that to which you are committed, that which in a Biblical sense, we refer to as your ‘calling’.
God has given us the right to choose, but once we have made the choice, we need to stay committed to it.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James.1:6-8)
For leaders who decide to commit themselves to a decision or goal, there is no place for doubt or second thoughts – doubt reeks of a lack of faith in what you are doing.
Commitment requires a firm decision to continue till the end no matter what.
Ester in her moment of decision, knew that approaching the king unannounced could cost her life.
Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
(Est.4:10-14)
A commitment had to be made, a final decision:
Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.(Est.4:15-16)
The result of Esther commitment would possibly lead to her death, but there was no turning back. Not many of us will be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, but the question begs to be answered, how far will you go to defend that to which you have committed your life?
Moses, at first, was hesitant and reluctant to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but once he had made the commitment he threw his all into the endeavour, so much so, that when the Lord wanted to destroy the people for rejecting Him and making a golden calf which they worshipped and planned to use as a mascot to proceed ahead of them, Moses interceded on their behalf with the words:
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Ex.32.32)
Moses was prepared to die for his people, even though they were rebellious and double-minded, even though they irritated and angered him.
The price of commitment is responsibility. Once you have chosen the road you wish to travel, you remain on it till the end.
Out of commitment flows the responsibility that commitment places on you. As a leader, you are accountable for what happens. Your commitment has brought others along with you, people who might not share in your fervour, nonetheless if things go wrong the blame will accrue to you even if you yourself are not at fault. That is the price of commitment. Taking responsibility and responsibility means not blaming someone else for the things that go wrong, not hiding behind someone else when the road turns out to be a cul-de-sac or a hairpin bend in the opposite direction, as Adam did when he ate the forbidden fruit offered to him by Eve:
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (Gen.3:12)
Adam was the ‘leader’, but could not accept the responsibility of taking the forbidden fruit from Eve and eating it. Not once do we see him apologizing, or asking forgiveness. All he did was to try and shift the blame on someone else.
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (1Tim.3:1)
To be a leader is a good work, a desirable position but it requires commitment, dedication and responsibility.
David demonstrated commitment to his calling even when things were at their worst. The psalms are full of his tears and lamentations for the attacks and situations that befell him, but not once did he waver in his decision to lead Israel in the way of the Lord, not once did he say, ‘I’ve had enough, I’m quitting.’ He stayed the course till his death. David was human and fallible and had a strange ability to make wrong decisions at the wrong time and place himself and the country under enormous pressure, but when the rashness and stupidity of his decisions were pointed out to him he always accepted responsibility for what he had done.
After a lifetime of achievement he wrongly ordered a census of Israel. He was much like Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel, proud of what he had achieved, and wanted proof of his strength to satisfy his ego, but the Lord was displeased with him and sent a plague against Israel. Worthy leader that he was,
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. (1Chron.21:17)
David was always willing to take responsibility for his actions, to be first in line when it came to punishment for his indiscretions. Never afraid to lead from the front, David would step out when no other would. Against Goliath, it was he who came out from the ranks of the Israelites, willing to lay down his life for his people. When the ark of the Lord was brought into Jerusalem, it was he who danced in front of the Lord forfeiting his dignity, it was he who marched before his men into battle, and it was he who stood up when things went wrong.
It is good to be a leader, but there is no place for distractions or double mindedness, no place for cowardice or second thoughts, commitment and responsibility are the order of the day.