The Strength of Commitment

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Proverbs 16:3 

In a world saturated with distractions, driven by convenience, and crippled by inconsistency, the call to commit is countercultural. Yet, Solomon—under divine inspiration—urges us to take all our works, dreams, and duties and commit them unto the Lord. Why? Because only in holy commitment will our thoughts, goals, and outcomes find clarity, direction, and establishment.

The word “commit” here is the Hebrew word galal, meaning to roll upon. It gives the idea of rolling your burdens, tasks, and works off your own shoulders and onto God’s. Not in passivity or laziness—but in trust and total investment. Commitment is not just intention—it is action with direction.

“Thy thoughts shall be established”

This means that when we give God our actions, He will firm up our thoughts. In other words, right action fuels right thinking. We live in a generation that says: “Wait until you feel motivated, then act.” But God’s Word teaches the opposite: Act in faith, and your thoughts will follow with clarity and strength.

Current Trends: A Culture of Half-Heartedness

• A recent Gallup poll revealed that only 23% of employees in the U.S. are “engaged” at work. That means over three-fourths of people are doing the bare minimum.

• A Barna study found that less than 1 in 3 Christians who make a spiritual resolution or ministry goal see it through beyond 90 days.

• Among young adults, a study from the National Center for Education Statistics noted that task completion and follow-through rates have dropped sharply over the past two decades, correlating with the rise in digital distractions.

We are not suffering from a lack of potential—we are suffering from a lack of commitment.

 We have plenty biblical examples of committed servants:

• Nehemiah committed his work to the Lord, despite opposition, distraction, and danger—and rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15).

• Paul the Apostle was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and opposed—but never wavered from the work God gave him (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7).

• Jesus Christ Himself said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He is the ultimate example of diligence, commitment, and follow-through.

Committed or Convenient?

Many Christians today are waiting for the “right time” or “perfect motivation” to serve God. But true commitment doesn’t wait for motivation—it creates it.

Discipline beats emotion. Faithfulness overcomes feelings. As Leonard Ravenhill once said:

“The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the church has lost her power to weep over her lack of commitment.”

In a world allergic to effort, let the believer shine through diligence. Not just starting strong—but finishing faithfully.

Consider some practical steps:

1. Commit your calendar — Prioritize church, devotions, outreach. Don’t fit them in—build life around them.

2. Establish a morning routine — Begin each day by “rolling” your works upon the Lord in prayer (Psalm 5:3).

3. Track progress, not perfection — The Lord blesses consistency, not occasional passion.

4. Don’t make vows lightly — Ecclesiastes 5 warns about making promises you don’t intend to keep. Instead, commit with intent and diligence.

Commit or quit—but don’t coast.

Lazy faith produces no fruit. Disciplined faith changes the world.

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” – Luke 16:10