Diligence Rules – Motivational
God values diligence in His people, as is shown by the numerous
references to diligence in the book of Proverbs.
Here are a few
examples:
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (12:24)
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (14:2)3
The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the
diligent are fully satisfied. (13:4)
TWO EXAMPLES OF DILIGENCE
The Proverbs 31 Woman
In the last chapter of Proverbs, King Lemuel describes a godly
woman whose life is characterized by diligence.This is a description of a type of woman and not
necessarily a specific individual. Many of the descriptors refer
to her investment of her time and energy.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. (13)
She gets up while it is still dark…(15)
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for
her tasks. (17)
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat
the bread of idleness. (27)
Epaphras
There are many other people in Scripture who exhibit
diligence. One such person is Epaphras. Epaphras is mentioned only two
times in Scripture. He probably started the church in Colossae. At the
end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he writes this about Epaphras:
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus,
sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you
may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I
vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at
Laodicea and Hierapolis. (4:12-13)
In these two brief sentences the diligence of Epaphras,
including his diligence in prayer, was spoken of twice. He did not
just pray, but he “always wrestled in prayer”. And what is there that
requires more work, focus and energy than prayer?! Paul also testified
that Epaphras was “working hard” for the believers at the young
churches. Epaphras’ diligence was making an eternal difference in the
lives of believers in that time!
DILIGENCE IN OUR LIVES
Diligence needs to be more than a concept we discuss.
For it to become an ingrained character quality it must be practiced
daily. That means we must will and strive to be diligent. Some
practical evidences of diligence we can see in our lives today are
seen in the following “I will” statements:
I will finish all my projects.
I will do my jobs right.
I will follow instructions.
I will concentrate on my work.
I will not be lazy.
CONFESSION
I confess that I bear rule in the Name of Jesus. The Word of God says
that the diligent bear rule. Therefore I will be diligent in all I do.
I will be focused, I will be untiring, I will not be slothful, or love
slumber or sleeping. I will achieve all my goals,
Amen. God has given me all things (1Co 3:21). I choose diligence
today, and I have it, because God has given me diligence by giving me all
things. I choose it, and I will act on this belief from now on, hallelujah!
