Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3
What does commitment mean to you? If you say, “I’m in a committed relationship,” that will generally mean exclusivity. “I’m committed to getting this project finished on time,” says you will do what it takes to meet the deadline. In general, a commitment is a pledge to undertake something with fidelity, stability, hard work, and determination—all with the desire for success. How often do commitments end in failure, however? Perhaps the earnestness of the moment does not translate to the long-term process.
Today’s verse instructs you to commit your work to the Lord. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” His goal for you is to be committed to Him first. God wants your life to show His love, which is why He offers you salvation and a new way to live (John 3:16, Philippians 3:13). Then He desires that you serve Him, by serving others (Romans 13:8). He calls you to commit your time, talent, and treasure to Him (Matthew 6:21), and be committed to your fellow believers (Hebrews 10:25). For those who are married, He expects a complete commitment to your spouse; and for those who work, a faithful commitment to the one who pays your wages.
Check your own commitment quotient today. Ask the Lord to show you any areas where you may need to improve and seek His help. Find joy in your commitments. Pray for elected officials on national, state, and local levels to honor the commitments they have made to serve their constituency.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 25:1-29
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
