Diligence

 

DILIGENCE

Pro 22:29, John 9:4.

Diligence means hardwork. It is done with painstaking effort to accomplish or to perform a task. It is being conscientious  and consistent in all duties. It involves thoroughness, perseverance and determination. It is an ingredient to success in all walks of life; whether in secular and non secular endeavours. It is a virtue and it should be applied in all areas of one's life. It drives one to be successful in a career, in business, in profession and in ministry. For one to be fulfilled in ministry,one needs to be diligent. For God puts a diligent person above his competitors. God expects us to be diligent and he said what ever is given to us to do, we should do it diligently according to the grace given to us.Rom12:8.

If it is singing, ushering, teaching, do it diligently. Jesus said" My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working" John 5:17. Also he said "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work."John 9:4.

Brethren,God is busy working 24/7, busy creating and watching all over his creation.His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth and listening to you anytime you call upon him. He says  "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things  you do not know."  That is call any day any time he is ever ready to answer. And Jesus too is at his  right hand pleading your case 24/7 , preparing your place ahead of time.

The one who does not sleep nor slumber, the one whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth expects us to be diligent. Our Lord is diligent personified.He wants you to seek him diligently.

Diligence is the pathway to greatness and an antidote to poverty, and a crucial ingredient to success. Therefore, whatever your hand finds to do ,do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecc 9:10. In other words, do whatever  your hand finds to do ,do it with diligence.Apostle Paul admonishes us to be diligent, to take pains  and to strive to look for ways to be more efficient, more effective and to better fulfill your duties, constantly drive yourself towards perfection. 

Diligence in your walk of faith will lead to spiritual growth, success in ministry and it will help you develop a closer relationship with God. In other words, if you are diligent in studying the Bible, praising, worshipping, praying and seeking God you will develop a closer relationship with God. You are admonished to keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Pro 4:23. Imbibe diligence as a virtue.

Let us consider The Apostle Paul and Elisha as examples of  people who are diligent.

The Apostle Paul.

He was so diligent. So determined, committed and  focused; very efficient, effective and dedicated to the gospel work. He was diligent in preaching, church planting and follow up of new converts. A good encourager and counsellor, writing to believers, encouraging and counseling them. He made  missionary journeys spreading the good news of Jesus Christ  among the Jews and Gentiles. A prolific writer: He authored thirteen of the sixty six books of the Bible and four of them were written while he was in prison, namely  Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. He laboured  more abundantly than all the apostles by the grace of God which was with him. 1Cor15:10. He was so committed to preaching that he had to say" Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot  boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe hto me, if I do not preach the gospel.1Cor 9:16. He was so diligent and strategic about  preaching that he said" I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews, I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law so as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means, I might save some. I do all these for the sake of the gospel that I may share in its blessing.1Cor 9:19b-23. He admonished that people should be diligent and he said " We want each of you to show the diligence to the very end, that what you hope may be fully realized. We don't want you to become lazy but through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb 6:11-12. He made remarkable  exploits.  Even Lydia  the first convert in Europe was through him when he was in  Macedonia at Philippi. He was a great missionary. Despite all that happened to him in Antioch,  Iconium, Lystra, Jerusalem, Asia minor to mention a few, he was undeterred, he was diligent, and more and more committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. He based his success on the number of souls he was able to win and disciple, convert and follow up and number of churches planted. In addition to all these he was also a tent maker and using the money  to support the ministry. Apostle Paul's  life was an inspiration to people.  (

Elisha.

Elisha would have missed the double portion of Elijah's  spirit  but for diligence through determination, persistence and focus. When  both of them were on their way from Gilgal, Elijah knew he would soon be taken away, he told Elisha to stay where they got to and said the LORD has sent him to Bethel. But Elisha said"As surely as the LORD  lives and as you live  I will not leave you."So they both went to Bethel. Elijah asked him to stay  at  Bethel that the LORD sent him to Jericho. The same reply Elisha gave in 2kings 2:2b he still gave Elijah. They both continued till they got to Jericho. At  Jericho Elijah told Elisha again to stay behind the third time that the LORD sent him to Jordan but Elisha persisted in following and he repeated  the third time" As surely as the LORD lives and as you live I will not leave you." So Elijah used his cloak to partition  River Jordan and they both crossed to Jordan on dry land. When Elijah realized that Elisha was persistent and determined to keep following him he then asked Elisha "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?2 Kings 2:9b. Elisha replied "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit." Elijah told him he had asked for a difficult thing but that if he is able to see him when he is being taken from him, the request will be his, if not, it will not. Elisha focused on him till he was taken away. He picked the cloak that fell from Elijah and received the double  portion of Elijah's  spirit. Immediately he started to perform wonders and he became more honourable. The company of the prophets who were watching realized  the spirit of Elijah was resting on him and went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Brethren this could not have been possible for Elisha but for diligence through determination, persistence and focus.

Benefits of Diligence.

It will enable one to attain true honour and stand before kings and not mean men. Pro 22:29.

It brings an increase of substance as it moves one from poverty to prosperity and also one's plans lead to profit. Pro21:5.

Desires of the diligence are fully satisfied. Pro13:4b.

Diligent hands will rule. Pro12:24b.

It trains one to have focus, to be painstaking, dogged,and to be target oriented.

It is a pathway to greatness .

It leads to spiritual growth in the walk of faith. 

Admonition.

You are admonished to add prudence and discipline to diligence.

Be diligent in non secular assignment given to you and be faithful in it.

Imbibe holiness.

Know your ministry and don't " cut corners."

Be spiritually awake and pray for God's grace always.

Prayer.

Father, grant me the grace and all it takes to be diligent.

In Jesus' name.