Commitment

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Simply defined, commitment is an identification with and attachment to a cause with supportive action. It is a pursuit on which one is willing to expend scare resource which have alternative uses. It is a driving force behind any achievement in all field of human endeavours. Anyone who dreams of success while lacking commitment is a dreamer,and our race to eternal life is not an exemption.

Our degree of involvement in the things of God and in the expansion and welfare of his kingdom is dictated by the level of our commitment. This in turn has something positive or negative in the level of victory and the quality of our lives as christian.

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THE ASSUMPTION OF COMMITMENT

*There must be a goal, the pursuit and attainment of which is left at the discretion of individuals - John 10:18

*There must be resource which has alternative use -Eccl.11:6 if time, as a resource factor is highlighted here, the times for the sowing could have been invested in less profitable activities like chatting and sleeping. Similarly, the seed could have been put to other uses, even if it is feeding with it.

• There must be willingness to belong, to participate -(1 Chron. 29:5).

• There must be ability to perform - Romans 12:4 -6

FOCUS OF COMMITMENT

We have a few things which should be the object of our pursuit and about which christian are expected to demonstrate their commitment and love for God.

The kingdom and his righteousness - matt. 6:33;Jeremiah 29:31. The pursuit of the kingdom is singularly the most important duty of man on earth while other areas of commitment,as shown below,are only supporting the quality of our decision on the kingdom issues.

The gospel to be preached by all believers -2 Timothy 4:1,2 someone said , "if everyone outside the church is a mission field ,everyone inside the church should be a missionary".

Sound doctrine to be defended by pastors and Christian workers - 2 Timothy 2:1,2.

Ideals and excellence to be pursued - Daniel 1:18 This is propelled by the desire to rise above the average, above the masses to tap our God given potentials to the fullest.

Victory over the enemies of God - Psalm 18:37; Joshua 10:12-14. While many seem to understand this responsibility and are doing everything to endure progress in this area, yet many subtle diversions of the enemy is robbing the people of God their blood - bought victory.

Commitment to work of God( Jeremiah 48:10)

Point number 5 above introduced this but it is necessary to dwell further on the topic since it offers us a more detailed and practical view of the discourse.

In Jerusalem , just as it is in the church today, everyone had the fallen wall at his own backyard to build. Neh. 3.

No one is as equipped in the entire christendom, to fulfil the role designed by God for you like you; no one will. 1 cor. 3:6.

God has never honoured any excuse and yours, fine as they may look and convincing as they may sound ,will not break this record - Exodus 4:1,10,13

The day of reckoning will celebrate our success ore bemoan our failure - 1 Corinthians 3 :13-15

God,the ultimate Judge and Rewarder, will compute our resources in terms of time, money e . t. c against our outputs in the profit and loss account. He will prepare for everyone - Luke 12:48.

EXAMPLE OF COMMITMENT

Jesus Christ, Nehemiah, Ruth, Uriah the Hittite, Joshua, The Apostle, Paul.

HINDRANCE TO COMMITMENT

• Laziness and love of pleasure

*Evil diversion

*Wrong companionship

*Social and marital pressures

*Fear

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One of the great disappointments in the church today is that only a few have demonstrated the amount of commitment which matches God's expectation from them. The word of Mordecai to Esther"...and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this ? (Esther 4:14) is still ringing loud warning to all christian in respect of our God - ordained assignment.

As has been hinted, there is no doubt that our coming to the kingdom is 'for such a time as this'. This is because our role cannot be combined by another person no matter how zealous and talented he is. Indeed there is no amount of grace which God can bestow upon any life that will make him fulfil more than His own share of God - assigned responsibilities. Such endowment will only assist a person towards his own goal rather than make him lend a helping hand to another. The tragedy that follows the neglect of our call for too long is that of a replacement!

Therefore, unless you have prepared answers which God cannot fault concerning the blood in our hand as a result of unfulfilled missions. There is no alternative to a thorough self examination to discover the resources at your disposal which are not fully serving the interest of the Lord Jesus and effect a redirection.