True exhortation is a way of life: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1) exhorted Paul. It is so easy to point out our brother’s failure, without lifting a finger against our own folly. But let us once lower our aims of spirituality, let us once slip into apathy, let us once take our eyes from the straight and narrow way and our brother will notice. He, too, will lower his aims of spirituality, slip into apathy and lose sight of the narrow way. No — let us with a true and humble heart, “exhort one another daily, while it is called `Today'”(Heb. 3:13).
To assist us in our walk, we each have certain strengths of character given us by God which we can choose to prayerfully develop: “…Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (II Peter 1:5-7). Peter, as with Paul, shows us that the development of these characteristics will lead us from faith to love, not as an impractical study, but as a living, loving witness to God’s goodness. As our God is faithful and loving in practical ways and as our Lord was an example of practical virtues, so we can put into practice, by persistent effort, a godly way of life. Therefore let us consider one of the characteristics which can help us: diligence.
The meaning of diligence
A dictionary definition of diligence is “persistent effort or work; industrious character.” Our English word comes from a word meaning, “to love, to take delight in.” Diligence then has the idea both of working and of loving that work, of delighting in daily duties. Biblical diligence takes that one step further: it is working toward a goal with zealous persistence and joy.
Each of us knows what diligence is from our own experience. We can well remember a project we worked on for several hours and hardly noticed the time going by. We worked hard, paying attention to detail. We smiled at our progress and kept at it until finally we had it accomplished. That project was work: perhaps hard work, which required long hours. But we did it with joy in our hearts, perhaps even a melody on our lips. It was a task made easier by our absolute love of what we were doing. That is diligence, “a labor of love” (I Thess. 1:3). This is the attitude we need to apply to our walk in Christ Jesus.
Cultivate a good conscience
The Proverbs often speak of this lovely characteristic of diligence. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). To “keep our hearts” means to cultivate one’s conscience. A look at the context of the passage will show us this: “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee” (v. 25). We don’t often think of diligently cultivating one’s conscience. Yet as imitators of Christ, we need to do exactly this. But what a joy to imitate him who said, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5). We know that we cannot overcome by our own strength; but keeping our hearts with all diligence, we can overcome in him.
We need to be active not lazy
“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Prov. 10:4 NIV). We know this to be true. If our hands be slack to do God’s will, too lazy to help our sister or brother, or prepare for Sunday School work or preaching work then we will be spiritually poor. Instead, diligently “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20). This spiritual wealth can be ours, and we can enjoy working for it! Visit that brother or sister in hospital. It may be out of our way, we may have to change our routine, but the delight on the face of that brother or sister will be wonderful to behold.
Retain our first love
“He who diligently seeks good finds favor, but trouble will come to him who seeks evil” (Prov. 11:27). Can we take for granted that, being a disciple of Jesus, we diligently seek good? No! We did indeed diligently seek good when we prepared to be baptized. We thought about our new life. We were aware of our sins. We wanted so much to do what was right. Do the words of the Master ring in our ears; “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love?” (Rev. 2:4).
Let us return to our first love. Once we begin doing it, “seeking good” is a joy. When we think of preaching the word, ministering to the sick and helping to build the faith of a young disciple — we realize such things are not for our own glory, but for God’s. There can be great joy in imitating the Colossians to whom Paul said, “we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints” (Col. 1:4).
A goal is important
“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (Prov. 12:24 NKJV). Those in power in this world are diligent in the things of this world. How much more will those who are diligent in the things of God rule with Christ. Diligence is the key: working toward a goal with zealous persistence and joy!
True diligence produces eternal wealth
“The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious” (Prov. 12:27). Wasted substance is a sad thing. How much sadder is wasted spiritual substance. We “hunt” in God’s word and should make good use of it. The things which we glean from the living word are not trivial. Our fruits from hunting lovingly through the words of the Almighty Himself can be “roasted” and “eaten.” They can be assimilated so as to become a part of our everyday life.
“The soul of a sluggard desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Prov. 13:4). Today’s “couch potatoes” may desire what they see but they have little or nothing. We can take a spiritual lesson for ourselves. How often have we, on a Sunday morning, been inspired to serve more, to seek more, to pray more, only later to have laziness take away our resolve? With God’s grace, let us be diligent to carry out what we have set out to do with zealous persistence and joy!
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Prov. 22:29). While it is true that diligence in employment can help us climb the corporate ladder, it is not the kings of this world whom we want to stand before. We long to stand before the King of Kings and serve Him: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 13:42). A life of diligence and service today may mean a life of exaltation tomorrow — by the gracious gift and love of God.
“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee, and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite” (Prov. 23:1-2). This somewhat humorous example by the wise man also has implications for us. After all, the great ruler has given us all that we have and we should not be a glutton in using it for our own gratification. Rather we should consider diligently our walk before Him with what He has given us.
“Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations” (Prov. 27:23-24). Great estates must be maintained by wise counsel or they will come to ruin. And many a great family has come to ruin after being successful for many generations. In a spiritual sense, being a member of an established ecclesia and coming from a long line of believers does not assure continued riches in Christ. We have a duty to be diligent in attending to the flock and herds of our family and ecclesia. By so doing with zealous persistence and joy we can look to the “crown of righteousness” for those who love his appearing.
In summary, diligence means assiduously working with a goal before us. It means working gratefully, not grudgingly, but with persistence. Above all, we must aspire to the true character of God. “But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One