THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT
-by Dr. John Tetsola

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Luke 5:27-28

There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when it is convenient. When you are committed to something you accept no excuses. Leaders must never equip people who are merely interested. Equip the ones who are committed. Commitment is the one quality above all others that enables a potential leader to become a successful leader.

Without commitment there can be no true success. To determine whether the people around a leader is committed, first the leader must make sure that the people around him know exactly what it will cost them to become what they desire. That means that the leader must be sure not to undersell the assignment at hand. The leader must let the people know what it is going to take to do the job. Only then will they know what they are committing to. The price of commitment involves the presence of six key ingredients in the life of a leader.

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.

And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

2 Chronicles 31:20-21

• First, commitment will demand a change of lifestyle in a leader. You cannot remain the same and be committed to something. Whatever you are committed to has the potential to change you. True commitment demands the price of a change in lifestyle. Hezekiah couldn’t live the way his father lived. His commitment to the house of the Lord demanded in him a change of lifestyle.

• Second, commitment creates loneliness. Very often walking with God and doing what is right is always a road traveled by few. And sometimes you may find yourself traveling that road alone at certain seasons of life. But never be afraid because the Lord is with you. Hezekiah stepped out in obedience alone at first. Your commitment to your assignment may require you to step out in obedience first before anyone follows you. Be willing to do that.

• Third is your faith in God. True commitment demands that you develop your faith in God. Working with God and for God demands that you believe that in spite of what the enemy does, you will be victorious. The commitment made by Hezekiah demanded the faith to believe that God would bless his efforts. That is a price of commitment.

• Fourth is the price of criticism. Criticism accompanies commitment to anything. What the mind doesn’t understand and cannot tolerate, the mind criticizes. When commitment is made to accomplish an endeavor, there are many who may not understand. Some may eventually come along, but others may not come along at all. As a leader, you must never relinquish your pursuit when the will of God is being executed. Understand that this is part of the price you pay for the commitment to a God assignment. Hezekiah was able to weather the harsh questions and criticism of an older generation in the accomplishment of his assignment.

• Fifth, commitment demands daily discipline. Discipline is having a reason for doing something. If you have a convincing reason for doing what you do, discipline becomes easy. The problem most times is that there is a lack of revelation regarding our pursuit. The heart that is void of the revelation of its pursuit will never be disciplined to accomplish its assignment. Hezekiah had to instill a daily regimen to bring about reform.

• Finally, commitment produces pressure. The pressure of potential failure and misunderstanding often accompanies the commitment to accomplish a thing. Never buckle under the pressure. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you through. Hezekiah endured the pressure of potential failure and misunderstanding and yet did not quit.