I owned and operated a home improvement company for twenty-five years. As a contractor, I made it my company’s goal to give the customer a completed product that was useful, durable, enjoyable, and aesthetically pleasing. All of these projects were accomplished in the same basic manner with two main participants involved in the project: a homeowner with a specific improvement that they wanted to add to their home, and the contractor.
Before any forward progress could be achieved, both parties needed to be willing to make a commitment to each other to provide their specific part of the project. The customer was to provide access to the property, agreement to the plans, and the finances to pay for the project to be constructed. The contractor was to provide the building permits, a set of plans, all the necessary building materials, and the skilled labor and management of the construction process. He was also to provide a reasonable construction schedule from beginning to end so that both parties knew when the project was expected to be completed.
Even though many details of a home improvement project are discussed, not every part of the job can be foreseen. If either the homeowner or the contractor doubts the success of the project due to fear of the unknown, it will not take place. They must trust that the job can be done and that together they can overcome any challenge that may arise. To get the job moving, both parties first need to be willing to make a commitment to do their required part.
This is true for spiritual commitments as well. God’s Word is filled with various commitments He encourages us to make, such as choosing to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength or deciding to boldly and faithfully carry out our ministry of reconciliation. We want to enter into those commitments with confidence and respect, loving God back for all He has done for us. However, making a decision without knowing all the details about what’s on the horizon can be intimidating at times. How can we learn to confidently make a godly commitment without knowing all of the details? God’s Word teaches us to trust Him and to be confident in our various commitments to Him—knowing that as we do our part, He will be faithful to His Word.
In every category of life, making a commitment always begins with a decision. Maybe you remember when you made this decision.
Romans 10:9 and 10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
When we confessed Jesus as lord, believing that God raised him from the dead, we made a decision. We chose to make a commitment to God, and then He followed through on His part. We confessed and believed, then He made us His children, giving us everlasting life and the ability to manifest all nine manifestations of holy spirit. Making a commitment always begins with making a decision.
What does it mean to make a commitment? One dictionary defines “commitment” as an act of committing to a charge or trust; an agreement or pledge to do something in the future; something pledged. When we make a commitment, we are choosing to pledge ourselves to a charge or trust.
Just like commitments in the construction business, spiritual commitments also require two parties: you and God. Each commits to do their part. God has already made many promises to us via His Word, a Word He is fully committed to. Our part is to commit our works unto the Lord. Even though we rely on God’s strength and supply, we understand that the responsibility to make the decision, to make the commitment, is ours.
Proverbs 16:3:
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
God exhorts us to make a commitment to Him, and then He promises that our thoughts will be established, stable, secure, and enduring. Making a commitment starts with a decision based on our trust in God and His Word. We can trust in God to bring His Word to pass because God is fully committed to His Word. Therefore, we can make a commitment without any fear.
Psalms 37:3-5:
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
The decision comes first, and the blessings follow. We do our part, and God does His.
Making a commitment to do God’s Word does not need to be emotional. We do not need to wait until we “feel” right about it or put off making a commitment until all the pieces “fall into place.” Waiting to decide—waiting to make up our minds and make a commitment—means that our decisions will be made for us as life comes sweeping by. Indecision is a decision. It is a decision not to do. God exhorts us to make a decision, to make a commitment, so that we can get the godly results He desires for us to enjoy….
This is an excerpt from the January/February 2017 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2017 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
For more information on subscribing to The Way Magazine, Click Here