ARE YOU COMMITTED?

A chicken and a pig were walking down the road together, engaged in serious conversation. They passed a flashing sign advertising special breakfast at the local Inn. “Ham and Eggs – $2.95!”

What! Exclaimed the chicken, this is nonsense, after all I go through, my contribution to the society is breakfast “for a stupid two #@%##*)# dollars?

The pig just kept quite, disturbed by the loud silence, the chicken asked, is something wrong? To which the pig replied, “For you, it may be a contribution. For me it’s a total commitment.” Tomorrow I give Ham.

There is a great danger in our time of succumbing to mediocrity not through incompetence or a lack of integrity but simply from a lack of genuine commitment. Quality relationships are founded on the rock of commitment, not the shifting sand of feelings or emotions.

Many of those who followed Jesus were merely curious. Others were convinced of the truth of what he was teaching, but only a few were fully and personally committed.

How on earth do leaders establish and retain committed followers?
How, in some cases, do we get ourselves committed enough to pay the high price of success?

God knows how, and the prophet Habakkuk models an essential truth about God-focused commitment:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18

What a refreshing statement! Many leaders would love to have followers who are this committed to the cause.

The key ingredient to Habakkuk’s statement is that it is unidirectional; [Operating or moving or allowing movement in one direction only]

This verse translated to our age will mean...

• Even if I do not have a bank balance.
• Even if I do not have a house of my own.
• Even if my business is ruined.
• Even if I am unsuccessful.
• Even if I am alone (no one wants to live with such a failure).

YET WILL I REJOICE IN THE LORD. He promises to maintain his attitude regardless of the payback.

That’s really what “commitment” is. The statement, “I will be committed if” Isn’t commitment-making; It’s deal-making. It’s not committing; it’s bargaining.

What could have happened to draw such a unidirectional response from Habakkuk?

God REVEALED some deep things about his style of justice and his majesty to the prophet that humbled Habakkuk’s heart.

Leaders must identify what it is within their organization that is genuinely worthy of commitment.

In the absence of a life-consuming ideal, asking for the level of commitment Habakkuk expressed is absurd.

Until leaders complete this definition, they sound rather shallow even talking about it. No sane person will commit to things that don’t really matter.

But when an organization’s goals and outcomes are properly related to the living God and its activities honor him, then commitment makes sense.

Instead of asking, “How do we get commitment?” effective leaders will begin by asking, “To what (or whom) are we committed?”

May you commit to a worthy goal.

Pastor George.