The Maxwell Leadership Reading PlanSample

Commitment: Four Characteristics of Those Who Complete a Task

Commitment comes before anything else in a leader’s life. Because Nehemiah had it and drew it out of others, the people finished the wall in 52 days, despite many adversities. Their great accomplishment so thrilled Nehemiah that he wrote, “When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things...they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God” (Neh. 6:16).

Leaders who complete a task possess at least four characteristics:

1. A compelling purpose: They make a great commitment to a great cause.
2. A clear perspective: They don’t let fear cloud their view of the future.
3. A continual prayer: They pray about everything and gain God’s favor.
4. A courageous persistence: They move ahead despite the odds.