Success is birthed by intentionality. Likewise greatness. Google’s definition of diligence is careful and persistent work or effort. Diligence takes intentionality. Believers nowadays want the glory without doing the work. In some cases, they believe prayer to be the work. However, my understanding of scripture is that it is the diligent man, not a man diligent in just anything, but in his work, that stands before kings (Pro. 22:29).
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. “
Proverbs. 22:29 KJV
This is not to discard the place of prayer but work and prayer should never be replaced by one another.
Diligence is not a topic for classrooms and seminars alone. It is also imperative that it be taught in the gathering of believers. Too many believers have become casual about life and that is not God’s plan for us.
Diligent people make things happen and because of that, they dominate spaces, make policies, and are most influential. In the beginning, one of the first instructions and scope of authority God gave to man was to go forth and have dominion. This dominion is not over fellow men but over creatures of the earth and places. As believers living in the new creature reality, we still have this mandate of domination to live by. But without diligence, it is impossible to attain it. (Gen. 1:26-28)
David was chosen to be king of Israel not while he was serving in the royal palace but while he was still tending to sheep. He was very diligent with the work committed to him and even more was given to him. The resilience and other qualities he needed to shepherd those sheep gave him the experience he needed to be king. (1 Sam. 16:11-13)
It was while he was diligently tending to those sheep that he met with the lion and bear. It was based on these former encounters that he could confidently tell Saul that Goliath was only a small issue. David’s diligence made him stand before kings, literally. (1 Sam. 17: 34-36)
In this case, faithfulness and diligence can be synonymous. Some people cry out that God should give them a certain country, lest they die. But the question is have you been faithful with that one task assigned to you in church? How do you expect God to commit millions and even nations into your hands when you haven’t even been faithful in the little? The scripture tells us that it is those who are faithful in little that will be faithful in much (Lk. 16:10). David could be given much because he had proved himself faithful, and diligent in the “little”. Diligence does not overwhelm you or come upon you suddenly when you have a great task ahead. It is built from the little assignments.
No one who makes it big in life does so without being diligent in their work. Many people are stagnated because they have failed to be diligent in what they do. Success does not come to those who give up easily. There is a place for persistence if one is to attain greatness.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 ESV
It shouldn’t surprise you that some believers even fail to be diligent in their walk with God. In seeking God, you must be diligent. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Praying only when you feel you need God’s help or reading your bible just for the sake of it brings no rewards from God.
The church was and still is being built on the backs of diligent men. Those are the type of people God uses to further the advancement of His kingdom. You and I were able to learn of this saving gospel because someone somewhere was diligent in their walk with God. (2 Cor. 12:15)
Some people may think “Why do I even need to stand before kings when I’m comfortable where I am?” Some people don’t see it as necessary to be diligent in that sense because as far as they’re concerned, standing before kings doesn’t matter as long as they’re serving God. But this is the wrongest mentality to have as a believer.
God doesn’t want you to be a settle-for-less Christian. Christianity is not a safe place for mediocrity. All we have received from God is for us to do more, not less. (2 Cor. 9:8)
Diligence is not an option for believers. In Ecclesiastes 9:10 we are informed that whatsoever our hands find doing, we must do it to the best of our ability. Put in some more effort. Christianity is not a safe place for complacency. It is a misrepresentation of the kingdom to live your life casually.
When Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 to let your light so shine before men, this is impossible without diligence. In a world so full of darkness, it takes some level of effort and persistence to let your light shine such that people see and give glory to God.
Diligence sets you on high tables and secures your prosperity but for the lazy, slothful man, there is nothing. (Pro. 13:4 paraphrased)
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