Compliance vs. commitment

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

A NUMBER of times, Christ complained about the lack of faith of the people of his time. “This generation is a wicked generation: it asks for a sign, and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet,” he once said. (Lk 11,29-32)

We need to see to it that our faith is strong, deep and abiding so we can go on with our daily activities with a profound sense of commitment and not just go through them with the attitude of simply complying with what is expected of us.

To do things and to live with a sense of commitment means that we should be driven by some core belief which in none other than a belief in God. We would always be aware of doing things with and for our Lord and because of that, we would do things in the best way we can, despite our limitations and the various conditionings that we are subject to.

When we have a good sense of commitment, we would show determination in fulfilling it, a determination that can only spring from love. We make a promise that we take very seriously. As such, a commitment can truly be considered proper when it is inspired by God’s’ love, since it is God’s love that is the source and pattern of what true love is. As shown by Christ, we would be faithful to our commitments regardless of how things go.

We need to develop this sense of commitment as early as possible, especially nowadays when we are confronted with the prevailing environment of disloyalty, infidelity, promiscuity and hypocrisy.

We have to convince ourselves that this is the way to our true happiness and our human maturity and Christian perfection. It is a way for us to develop authentic virtues. We have to convince ourselves that entering into a commitment does not make us rigid persons. Neither does it curtail our freedom. Rather, entering into a commitment enhances our freedom, since it will help us to attain our goal despite changing circumstances.

To do things for the sake of compliance only is to have the mind of a worker without really considering the mind of the master and of the common good. It is to do things simply to fulfill the rules and the expectations of the people around, and not much more. There hardly would be room for creativity, innovation and further development of things.

This mindset is prone to the dangers of hypocrisy and deception, as expressed once by Christ when he told some leading Jews of his time that they preached but did not practice what they preached, they did things more to be seen by others. (cfr. Mt 23,1-7)

We should overcome our tendency to do things out of compliance only and develop the strong sense of commitment. This can be done if we would really grow in our faith in God through prayer and reflection, study of Scripture and Christian doctrine, etc.

When we truly have a good sense of commitment, we would always make daily plans complete with set goals and means, and always seeing to it that everything is done with God and for God, and that there is a sensation of love in all the things we do.

And despite the changing circumstances and problems and contradictions we can encounter along the way, we would know how to make due adaptations so as to be consistent with our commitment. We do not give up no matter what happens.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com