“PONDERING COMMITMENT”

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3

Commitment is such a big word. It demands that you give your undivided loyalty to someone or something. You will do everything in your power to keep your allegiance. Sadly, this word is losing its essence in our modern-day context. Marriage is becoming optional for couples. People don't want to give up their independence and are afraid to open up their lives to someone. Professing Christians claim faith in Christ but do not want to submit to His will.

Today’s verse is one of the all-time favorites among Christians. At face value, it seems like committing one’s work to the Lord guarantees that our plans will succeed. But what exactly does this verse mean?

The word “commit” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to roll upon.” It denotes total trust and submission to God’s will. The idea is that we ultimately allow God to take control of our lives: thoughts, words, and deeds. When we “commit” ourselves to God, we present everything we do to Him and put ourselves in a position of blessedness.

The verse also shows that we must first commit our work to the Lord so that our plans will be established. However, we must understand that Proverbs, as a literary form, communicates general life principles rather than absolute promises. This means that, generally speaking, we can expect God to bless our lives if we work according to His Word, but there are no guarantees that we will never encounter bumps along the way. In fact, Christians can still lose their jobs or get sick. However, if we commit their work to the Lord, we will understand that God orchestrates even such problems to fulfill His perfect plan in and through us.

In Romans 12:1, Paul reminds us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (in total obedience to God) as our spiritual worship. When God controls our lives, our desires align with His will, making us want what glorifies Him.

To commit our work to the Lord is to put our absolute trust in His wisdom and will, and the only way to discover them is to know His Word. God is sovereign and therefore does not need anyone’s approval to carry out His plans. His eternally divine will is revealed in Scripture; it’s up to us to know it and apply its principles accordingly.

How committed are you to knowing God’s will and ordering your plans based on what He has revealed? Are you determined to submit to His will even if it means setting aside your personal ambitions?

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Patricia Á. Casal on Unsplash