Commitment is a very important quality of leadership. Jesus is the ultimate picture of commitment. He went all the way to the cross for you and me. He is committed to us in that He will never leave us nor forsake us. And it’s usually in the midst of a trial when we learn just how faithful He is to us. People have a propensity to let us down. That is their nature. But God is faithful. That is His character. And we can trust Him completely. That brings stability to our lives.
In the book of Psalms, chapter one, we see just how having a relationship with the Lord brings stability to our lives which results in prosperity: “They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
It’s the level of one’s commitment that pulls him or her through when adversity hits. A person’s religious commitment will keep him or her going when times get tough. People follow people who are committed because people who are committed are stable. Solid life values bring stability. Ephesians 4 points out that when we are mature in the Lord, we will no longer be immature like children. “We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Obstacles and opposition inevitably confront all of us, but it is our level of commitment that will propel us forward.
Another thing about commitment is that the level of one’s commitment can only be shown by his or her actions. James, chapter 2, discusses how one’s faith is shown by his or her good deeds. “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?...we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[d] so also faith is dead without good works.”
Our actions over time show how committed we are, whether to a cause or to another person. Once we show by our actions that we are committed, trust begins to be established. James 5:12 instructs us to "[l]et your 'Yes' be your yes and your 'No,' no, or you will be condemned." People who keep their word by following up their words with consistent behavior are people of integrity. Trust is built when one follows through on their words with action.
