6 Commitments for Christian Ministers (i.e. All Christians)

Besides remaining faithful in prayer and regular study of God’s Word, Christian ministers (like every other Christian) should always keep Christ first, examine themselves, walk in the light of truth, practice obedience, rely on God’s grace, and maintain fellowship with God’s church. Each of these commitments is discussed in the following paragraphs.

The first commitment, keeping Christ first, involves the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt 22:36-37). In our fleshly natures, our every desire is centered around love for ourselves, but in our spiritual nature, our desire is for God. By walking according to our spiritual nature, we will put Christ first. Even so, we know that we will also be involved in wrestling against the fleshly nature as Paul makes clear in Romans 7:7-25. Nevertheless, we must follow Paul’s example and hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Given the constant struggle with our old nature, our tendency to be blinded by sin, and our potential to be self-deceived, all Christians should make the second commitment, regular self-examination (Lam 3:40; 1 Cor 11:28; 2 Cor 13:5). It is not enough to simply read and study the Bible, we must honestly look within to see whether or not our lives align with the truth of God’s word. Commitment to this process allows one to consistently apply God’s Word to every aspect of his/her person.

The third commitment is walking in the light of truth. As believers in God’s Word examine their own lives in light of its teaching, they learn about God’s will as well as those areas of their lives which are not in accordance with His will (Ps 43:3; 119:130; Prov 6:23-24). By confessing our disobedience to God (and to each other when appropriate) and repenting, we acknowledge that His Word is true and align our lives with it even when its truth finds us in error.

As the truth of God’s word lights our way, we should practice obedience (the fourth commitment). As Romans 2:13 says, “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” We practice obedience by consistently applying God’s Word to every aspect of our lives. This, of course, includes our relationships. We also practice obedience to God’s Word when we find ourselves in sin and repent as this is also the command of His Word.

Our fifth commitment should be total reliance on the grace of God and His redemptive power. Every Christian struggles with the fleshly nature and its sinful desires. In this battle, every Christian will become aware of sin in their lives. At times, Christians will even willfully choose to sin. To live a victorious Christian life, every believer must align their will with God’s will revealed in His word. When they sin, they must repent by choosing to be obedient to God and then rely on His grace to work His power into the human heart. In other words, we must rely on God to make Christ manifest in our lives as we surrender ourselves to Him. As Christians face hardships and trials and become aware of their frailty, they must call out to God and lean on Him to supply the power to live victoriously in Christ.

The final commitment we must make is to remain in fellowship with other believers in general and our fellow church members in particular. Unfortunately, this crucial requirement for maintenance of Christ-like character is frequently overlooked in our contemporary culture which is built around the concept of self-autonomy. By remaining committed to active fellowship, we will be spurred on “toward love and good deeds” and encouraged (Heb 10:24-25). We will benefit from the ministry of the Spirit through our gifted brothers and sisters and especially those with the equipping gifts. We can also find comfort by submitting to the authority of the God-called church leadership who are called to “correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (Heb 13: 7; 2 Tim 4:2).