Commitment: Four random thoughts about commitment

To be a good leader you must be committed.

People will not follow uncommitted leaders. If you want to be the leader, you need to be more committed than the people who are following you. Leadership is not about the leader, it’s about being committed to a cause.

Jesus asked for commitment from His disciples. Jesus charged the disciples, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus was committed to the greatest cause of all, “rescuing people from hell.” The disciples laid down their nets to follow Him. When they laid down their nets, they were quitting their jobs to follow Jesus. (Fishing was not recreational for them, it was their livelihood.) This is the level of commitment Jesus is looking for.

Not everyone followed Jesus. One potential disciple said to Jesus, “I want to follow you, but can I go to my father’s funeral first?” Jesus replied, “Follow me and let the dead bury the dead.” Why did Jesus respond so harshly? Jesus was testing this man’s commitment. He knew His disciples would need to be willing to give up their lives for the cause.

Commitment involves time. How do I lay down my life today? By giving God your time. Following Jesus means giving up things that you want to do to serve others. We understand this with athletics. The best kids on the football team get to practice early and stay late. They also practice on their own without being told. The same principle is true in God’s kingdom. The most committed leaders are the best leaders.

What are some changes you can do to raise the bar of commitment in your life?