Commitment means responsibility
- It is something that takes up time or energy, especially an obligation.
- It is a promise, a pledge, an assurance, its your word, your guarantee;
- it is dedication, loyalty, devotion, steadfastness, allegiance, faithfulness, duty
antonym: indifference – lack of interest in something, lack of care or concern, it is apathy [lack of enthusiasm], coldness, uninterested,
Ps 50:5
“Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
Ps 50:5
“Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
The word commitment is a word nobody wants to hear today…
There is a way of thinking today called “instant gratification” — they want a strong marriage, a strong family, they want success all the time, but they don’t want commitment.
It is “impossible” to have success anywhere without commitment. Anything that you desire to accomplish in life, in order for you to succeed, you will need to have commitment.
A church is only as strong as its commitment – if we will not be committed to the vision of God for us, then it will be very hard for that vision to come to pass!
In the Bible, commitment means “the giving of oneself in submission, consecration, dedication, and sacrifice! It is love for a person, a vision, a cause, a purpose.
COMMITMENT is a COVENANT
The reason why many people don’t want commitment is because it involves sacrifice, the giving of yourself, your time and even your finances. Coming late is a clear manifestation of lack or no commitment – when you don’t do what you say, people will not believe you.
We can only prove the heart of a person by their commitment – its not just saying ‘I love you pastor; I will support you, if it doesn’t show, then you cannot prove it.
Commitment is more than just having a desire or good intentions – like to finish college – because good intentions will not make you finish your course, but commitment will.
John 6:53
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
In this verse, Jesus means ‘total commitment’ to Him and to His Body…
Commitment to Christ is a prerequisite for us to have life.
John 6:66
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
Many of His followers cannot be committed to Him, they went to another church. God is not asking for half of your commitment, but the whole, that’s the reason why the first priority of God is to change your heart – when that happens, God will have 100% of your time, talent and treasure.
YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED TO GOD!
What happens when a person is not 100% committed to God?
What are the Consequences?
1) YOU WILL BACK SLIDE.
Many started so committed, but when they stopped, they went into regression in every area of their lives – anointing, power, and vision.
2) YOUR LOVE WILL WAX COLD.
A person will always be committed to something, there is no such a thing as an uncommitted person – committed to money, friends, to your business, but not to God!
3) You Will Put A Limit To The Growth Of The Family, Business, The Team, The Church.
You are actually putting a lid on the flow of power and blessings to your life and those with you!
4) You Will Begin To Function In Your Maintenance Mode.
Without commitment, you are just maintaining what you are doing – everything that is just maintenance will only produce “strange fire!”
Lev 10:1-4 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
5) Lack Of Commitment Will Lead You Into Poverty.
Prov 13:18
He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Every family, business or church, follows a conduct of discipline within them to maintain order and to achieve their goals. Discipline is vital in the day to day life of every person. Remember that nothing comes for free – even salvation, Jesus paid for it – commitment unto God is the price we pay for favor and blessings.
6) Lack Of Commitment Will Make You Lose Your Place In The Kingdom Of God.
Matt 25:29-30
For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Excuses People Give So They Won’t Commit:
Luke 14:16-17
Jesus replied:”A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
Luke 14:18-20
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
1) FIELD speaks of business.
A person must be committed to his business or to his job in order for it to prosper and for one to be promoted. But commitment to God should come first!
Matt 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2) OXEN speaks of work or job.
3) WIFE speaks of family.
Family is the second most important thing for us, but God should be first – that’s honoring God. Lead your family to God fathers, that’s your assignment to Him!
Often we are made to make decisions that would seem to jeopardize our business, job, or family. But God allows it so you would see His blessings that would come if only you would put Him FIRST.
The sacrifice to God demands for the blood to be seen – every sacrifice is done by the blood. It’s blood, sweat, and tears, we say, that’s sacrifice, that’s blood!
When God sees the blood, He will say, because you are committed to ME, I will be committed to you – I will be your PROVIDER, HEALER, PROTECTOR, SOURCE OF JOY, PEACE… e saan ka pa?
When God sees the blood, He moves! That’s His covenant to us, no blood, no movement.
Blood is faith, no matter how difficult it may seem, we will do it in Jesus’ Name!
It takes commitment to build a strong church, a strong team; it takes commitment to make disciples, to produce a harvest, to pray for people continuously;
YOU CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING WITH UNCOMMITTED PEOPLE!
BENEFITS OF COMMITMENT:
1) You will be productive and fruitful in every area of your life.
2) It will break the bad habits, bad patterns and bad cycles in your life.
3) Commitment develops character and maturity.
It is easy to be committed when things are well and going fine, but we see true commitment when things become hard and when problems arise – it is always the tendency of people to run away – nobody wants problems!
People who run away when problems come never develop character, they never mature…
You don’t run away from problems, you face them, that’s when you become firm and strong in your faith!
Rom 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
4) Commitment allows you to accomplish your purpose and your destiny – it drives you to ‘not miss your mark!’
5) Commitment is the ‘bridge’ between what you want and what you accomplish. Ex Losing weight
Without commitment, what you know – even if it’s the best idea, even if you’re the best at it, it wont matter! It only matters when you put it into practice!
Every purpose that God brings to His people is designed to make a change – change challenges the status quo – commitment allows that change to become reality!
6) Commitment Gives You A Sense Of Belonging To The House.
The orphan spirit would make you feel that you don’t belong – that’s why you don’t commit – but you are not an ‘orphan!’
Commitment destroys the orphan spirit, it allows for the warmth and the trust, and security to flow into your life because you know you belong!
7) When we commit to God, God will commit to you!
What Shoudl Be Our Motives For Making A Commitment?
Every man is motivated by something:
1) Motivation to be committed must be the ‘fear of God’.
2) Motivation to be committed must be the ‘love of God’ and the ‘love for God’.
3) Motivation to be committed is because we know it is the will of God.
TO WHOM DO WE COMMIT TO?
1) To God – that should be total!
When you put your priorities in order, they will determine what will flow into your life – whatever you put first will be your God, and God will not share His Glory with anyone; that’s why it has to be total!
2) To our family
3) To the head of the family at home, in the church, in the work place, even in the nation.
4) To the vision – win souls!
5) To the house – this is your house!
HOW DO WE MAKE THE COMMITMENT?
1) BEGIN NOW
All commitment begins with the grace of God, it is the ability of God to do what we cannot do on our own ability.
2) ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
3) HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY
If you know your purpose, you wont waste time!
Remember that commitment is your responsibility, your promise, your pledge, your word, your dedication, your loyalty, your devotion, your allegiance, your faithfulness!
The Opposite Of Commitment Is Indifference!
Indifference is when you no longer have any interest in what you used to do; when you no longer care, or have little concern because its no longer important for you, your heart has become cold!