I believe commitment develops through several stages, especially if we want to remain faithful throughout our lifetime.
The first stage begins with a special calling, a significant event, or a deep conviction in our hearts. For me, it was the third. I experienced a powerful inner conviction that I should devote myself to this ministry. That conviction became my first commitment—a promise I made to God.
The second stage comes when we discover that our work has meaning. As we serve others, help people, and witness lives being changed, we realize that our own lives are also being enriched. Without a sense of purpose, it is difficult to persevere. Even small successes and small signs of progress can bring joy and encouragement. Seeing people become happier and grow through our ministry gives us a deep sense of fulfillment. This strengthens our commitment.
The third stage is quite different from the first two. We encounter difficulties, disappointments, and roadblocks. We begin to understand human nature and the realities of ministry. We wrestle with problems, make mistakes, and gain experience in the field. Yet we continue to move forward. Looking back, we often realize that these struggles have become the very means through which God has matured us.
One important turning point in my own life came when I read an article by Peter Drucker. He wrote that when we do not expect personal benefits from our work, we are much more likely to succeed. That statement deeply challenged me. I gradually came to understand that ministry must never be about personal gain, recognition, or reward. It must be about the ministry itself and the people God has called us to serve.
Since then, this principle has become one of my lifelong companions. I continually ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” The answer remains the same: because God has called me to do it. Nothing else. This conviction has helped me renew my commitment again and again throughout my ministry.
Finally, there is the highest level of commitment: to accomplish the work God has entrusted to us during our lifetime. Our desire should be to finish well, just as Jesus declared near the end of His earthly ministry, “I have finished the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4).
Commitment is not something we make only once. It is something we renew throughout our lives—when we are encouraged, when we see results, when we face difficulties, and even when we see no immediate reward.
May we continue to renew our commitment until the very end, faithfully completing the work God has entrusted to us. The goal is not simply to begin well, but to remain faithful and finish well.