Be Diligent in YOUR Work!

I have been thinking about the word diligent this morning:

I read this Scripture, and decided to look up a few more:

Pr 21: 5 ¶ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

Saw the beaver picture, and my Canadian roots made me think about the industrious beaver depicted on our coins, a symbol of work…

Seems God likes diligence too, here’s a couple more verses regarding this character quality:

Pr 10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Pr 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Pr 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Pr 14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Our work produces prosperity, and it seems that when we are diligent in what God has called us to do, we see plenteousness, blessing, abundance, in every area of life. Notice here that abundance begins in our thought life, we need to see it first in our mind, and then in the hustle and bustle of our muscle applied to a dream or a project, great things occur. Notice Proverbs 14:23 here, there is work involved with the dream. Just talking about it doesn’t get the job done, in fact, it leads to poverty.

I could say I’m called of God, and then pretend to be praying, while surfing the internet, watching videos, or being entertained, but there would be no substance to what I teach or preach, you can get by on a few hymns, quips, and quotes to break the ice in a meeting, but God has no dumb sheep, we all have the mind of Christ. If we claim to be leading for God, we need to be going somewhere, and if we claim to be feeding the flock of God, we need to have fresh bread, broken and fresh from the oven of our prayer life, hot from the coals of heaven! No one wants stale, moldy bread, too hard to even break or chew!

Jesus is the bread of life, and I have determined to spend my life, preparing, baking, and serving the fresh bread of His Word to His people, in the heart and center of a God given vision being accomplished progressively for as long as He might leave me here in the earth. How about you?

In the meantime, I am working hard to provide for my family, and to do what I can for orphans and other great ministries around the world.

I see hard work exemplified in the life of the apostle Paul, and other New Testament leaders:

Consider these verses:

Romans 16:6

Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit.

Romans 16:12

Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:10

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

2 Corinthians 6:5

We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

2 Corinthians 11:27

I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Galatians 2:8

For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

Philippians 4:3

And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

1 Thessalonians 2:9

Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.

2 Thessalonians 3:8

We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

Are you hungry?

Work the Word, and get a job –

Or are you filled up with the things of this life that will never satisfy…

There is a hunger in every heart, that only Jesus can fill!

Let’s pray:

‘Father, here we are again, hungry to know you more. Show us the area’s were are called to work for you, and help us to be faithful and diligent in them, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.”