Christian Living

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I attended a leadership summit in my church and heard some invaluable advice on how to conduct oneself in ministry. I thought I should share the same advice that was based on Nehemiah’s story.

Defining commitment is about you having a willingness and ability to put your hands on something but also following through until the desired outcome is achieved. You may be in the habit of joining many ministries with the good intention of working with other brethren in them but you end up being irrelevant or spreading yourself too thin. Sometimes you may not even be able to follow through on assignments because you have too much on your plate. The trick lies in zeroing in on what you are best at and giving it your all. This way you are able to follow issues through.

Commitment is to God Himself. It is out of your burdened heart to do something that the change should be initiated. In Nehemiah 1:4, he weeps when he hears what has happened to his beloved city. You too should take a voluntary step to serve knowing that you do it for God and not for your pastor of for any human being. This is in the knowledge and faith that through God, you will be able to accomplish that which you would like to. Also remember that once your hands are on the plough, you should not look back or else you cease to be fit to serve the King-Luke 9:62.

You should clearly know why you are where you are. Nehemiah took the time to assess the challenge that he was up against. Even his approach to the king in Nehemiah 2:1 was timely. You too should be thorough in your research, before engagement, in order to understand the assignment you hope to partake. A commitment to a course needs a clear understanding of the same.

This commitment should be a well planned maneuver. By the time Nehemiah approached the king in Nehemiah 2:1-8, he had clear plans of what he needed to do. He took specific well thought out steps to do the work he was setting out for. You too will have God on your side if you have diligent commitment to the ministry that you are in.

Commitment to teamwork is also paramount because as you work with other people, you gain more insight and empower others even as they empower you. Nehemiah involved others in the work –Nehemiah 3:1-32; this way he was able to build their capacity in responding to issues affecting the community.

The success of your department or ministry will depend a lot on your input. This calls for commitment to people. Nehemiah motivated and inspired people in Nehemiah 2:17-18; he was willing to listen to their issues as seen in Nehemiah 5:1-19.Similarly you too should take time to motivate those around you and be ready to take specific actions if need be. People need to be cheered and inspired on.

You should be committed to tackling the challenges that will come your way. There will be those from outside and others from within. In any team, the different personalities will sometimes clash but you are called upon to be the level headed one; to turn to God for direction and give the same to the rest. Nehemiah in chapter 4 had to stand the ridicule of Sanballat and Tobiah yet he strengthened his team mates in verse 14 with the words “…Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome…”

Be courageous and committed to what you are doing; there should be is no quitting and no hiding from your responsibilities. In Nehemiah 6:11 we see him wondering why he should flee and categorically deciding that he would not.

Alertness in the spirit is another factor that is important in your journey of commitment in order that you may defend the work. The devil is never happy when one commits himself or herself to serve God and he will post his people around you to trip you. Nehemiah discerns the evil forces at play in Nehemiah 6:12. Keep yourself strong in the spirit in order to pick wrong doctrines and evil plans aimed at you.
Finally remain committed to the very end in order that God may be glorified. In Nehemiah’s case, the wall was finished in 52 days and all perceived that this had only been possible by God’s intervention-Nehemiah 6:15-16. Your work should be testimony that all that you have been able to achieve was only possible because of God.

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