Commitment

I disappointed myself this week because I intended to make brownies for the college students; Didn’t happen.  I had made a personal commitment that I failed to keep.  (I do hope someone else made an extra pan of brownies to make up for my failure.)  

At my office, an accounting firm, the majority of our “team-members” (the term we use for employees), are fully committed to the firm. We work very hard to meet the needs of our clients.  We are a bit over-taxed at this point in time and everyone is doing the most they can to help prepare income tax returns. It is important to us that as many of our clients as possible may rest more easily with their knowledge of the exact amount of tax due for 2011. “Team-members” are made to feel part of this group effort thus encouraging them to push harder to achieve this goal. Those employees who don’t feel part of the team generally quit within a short period of time.

Our attitudes influence our level of commitment. The dictionary lists commitment as a noun meaning “a pledge to do” or “the state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to a course of action, or to a person or persons”.  There is a long list of synonyms; some seem positive – agreement, deal, contract, pledge, promise, settlement, an understanding. Other synonyms for commitment seem very negative – burden, concern, obligation, liability, onus, millstone, weight, deficit. The origin of the word in Latin was “committere”, to send, give over, come together.

Success in business, and personally, depends upon commitment which incites action.  Commitment is a pledge to a purpose or line of conduct. Demonstrating commitment is hard work. Building a reputation for commitment is achieved through determination and perseverance. There must be a sound basis for the vision, values, principles, and beliefs we are committed to. God has given us such a basis upon which to make a commitment.  

John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Families are generally committed to other members of the same family.  The Church is the family of God and works well when based upon God’s principles.  The Church should embody the positive aspects of commitment rather than the negative connotations. Church members must be understanding and pledge themselves, commit themselves, to one another and to God. Church members need to avoid clinging to burdens, concerns, deficits and millstones as their commitments.

I will strive to be committed to God, adopt the “team-effort” and pledge that is described as the Church.  My soul is entrusted to God.

Dear  God, Please be with me daily. Help me to demonstrate to others the value, principles and blessings that result from commitment to you and your Church.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville,TX