by Mike Allen

We are all committed to something. The question is to what are we committed? I have noticed in my years of church and school ministry that the object of commitment on the part of “full-time” servants is not much better than the object of commitment of those who serve in the secular world. Too often we are committed to our personal success, progress, finances, and reputation. Our motto tends to be, “As long as I look good and my responsibilities are taken care of, I do not care about the rest of the ministry.” One problem is that we fail to recognize that the success or failure of the ministry will ultimately affect each of us. We cannot be committed to our own agenda and goals at the expense of everyone and everything else around us.

So to what are we to be committed? We should consider the following five things in our commitment, no matter where we serve. These things can serve as a common basis for each of us.

Commitment to God’s glory (Revelation 4:11). It is not my reputation that is at stake. My commitment is to give others a right opinion of Who God is. I am to be committed to insuring that God is glorified in everything that I do. Do I dwell more on what people think about me or what they think about God because of me?

Commitment to personal growth (Philippians 3:13). I should never think or feel as though I have “arrived.” We like our comfort zones, but we should not remain in them. We will always have areas in which we can be growing—e.g., communication, creativity, knowledge, relationships. When we are compensated for growth, we are eager to put effort into this area; but in ministry, we will rarely have this as a motivator; therefore, we must be committed ourselves to stretch and grow. How have you grown recently?

Commitment to others (Galatians 6:2). We easily become focused on our own personal tasks. Our list of responsibilities seems to be defined by the phrase “sufficient unto the day is the evil hereof” (Matthew 6:34). However, it is extremely encouraging to watch fellow staff members stop what they are doing to involve themselves with others. It is not because they have extra time and nothing to do but that they recognize the value of investing in the lives of others. They grasp the importance of working together, not just on individual responsibilities. Yes, we must each fulfill our own responsibilities, but we must also come alongside each other. Whose burden have you carried?

Commitment to the ones we serve (2 Corinthians 12:15). This can be the greatest challenge of all. People are difficult to serve. I often would rather give up and find someone new to work with rather than continuing to serve the same people. One of the most powerful things that Christ does for us, though, is to commit His everlasting love to each of us. It is not contingent upon our actions or behavior. It is a choice that He has made. This love is what Paul says holds or constrains him. It is this same endless love that we need to give to the ones we serve. Have you given up on anyone?

Commitment to the ministry (Ephesians 4:7, 12). In using the term ministry, I am not just referring to each individual church but to ministry as a whole. We are all called to be ministers one to another. Each part is significant. Each part is necessary. One of the greatest detriments to ministry is when someone either has an elevated or devalued view of his importance. Each view hinders the work that needs to be done. We must each be committed to the whole work of the ministry. We must each be committed to the ministry that we have been given and the ministry that we are a part of. If one fails in his area of ministry, the whole body is affected. Do you view yourself in light of the whole ministry?

To what are you committed? We will never see the work of the ministry move forward if we are all committed to our own agendas. We must work together and be committed to at least the same basic things.