The Value of Showing Up

For some time now I’ve been contemplating the importance of keeping commitments, especially as it pertains to church ministry. In this busy life it can be challenging, but as a person who has both struggled with and witnessed others struggle in this area, I have found it to be a far greater indicator of the value one brings to the ministry than so many other qualifications including creativity, personality, looks and wealth. Even if you are immensely talented, it will be of little worth if you are not reliable in the use of those gifts.

For instance, I was recently told a story of a man at a church who was notoriously charming, so much so that he was quickly elevated to important positions because they felt his energetic personality was an advantage to the church. He was soon informed by a church member about a lady in the hospital in need of prayer, and eager to always please, he enthusiastically agreed to show up without hesitation. On the day of the hospital visit, the church member arrived at the agreed upon time and waited with the patient for hours but the man never showed up. Apparently, he had better things to do. When the church member finally had the opportunity to talk to one of the pastors at the church about the no-show they were simply told, “Yeah, he does that a lot…but he’s just so gifted!” But what good is all his skill and charisma without follow-through?

Not only will breaking your commitments render you useless, it will also characterize you as someone who is unreliable and untrustworthy. You also take the risk of deeply offending and hurting others by your lack of consideration for their time and need. In fact, when you promise to be somewhere, it is not only important that you are punctual, but it is far more considerate if you arrive early. People who fly through the door with only seconds to spare are rarely prepared to get right to the task at hand and they add unnecessary stress to those who are waiting to begin, leaving them to wonder if you’re even going to show.

Of course, circumstances will occasionally come up that prevent us from fulfilling our obligations, but those instances should be rare. We should then make it a priority to inform others of the situation as soon as possible so a replacement can be found or adjustments can be made. This may seem like common sense, but sometimes people in ministry and other volunteer positions are far too flippant about their need to adhere to the commitments they have made, often forsaking their responsibility in favor of more alluring options or plain laziness. This is especially concerning from a Christian standpoint because it hurts our testimony when we communicate that our own desires take priority over the needs of others who are relying on us. And when you’re a person who represents the church, as the man in the illustration above did, it reflects badly on the whole body!

Now before I appear too self-righteous, I must admit that this is an area I struggled in greatly at one point. As a spontaneous extrovert, it is not my natural inclination to embrace commitment or be on time. Far too often I would cancel at the last minute or leave the house much later than I should. It was only when I began to truly see the disappointment and inconvenience it caused that I knew this was an area I had to work on. For some time I just chose to avoid commitments altogether, for fear I would continue letting others down, and myself, but in time I began to do small tasks that were short-term obligations. Eventually, I began to find that I was not only perfectly capable of showing up where I needed to be, but I could even be there early and was soon considered one of the more consistent and reliable people. That certainly doesn’t mean I don’t still have moments where I’m screeching in the parking lot with a minute to spare, but those times are far less common and not in line with the reputation I have sought to establish.

I write all this to encourage people who may be struggling in this area, but also as a reminder to those who have not considered how their actions affect those around them. For a Believer especially, this should be a top priority as we need to be known for our love and respect toward one another. Not to mention, as we establish ourselves as a person of integrity, the more trust we will build and the more responsibility we will be given in the ministries we are called to. Even those with lesser talents can become a commodity over far more gifted individuals who are unreliable. Because let’s face it, if you’re a Christian, our first commitment needs to be to God and I doubt we’d want to show up to heaven even one minute late!

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. -Luke 16:10

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. -Ecclesiastes 5:5

When a man takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. -Numbers 30:2

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. -Colossians 3:17