Diligence is the Name of the Game
By Don Twobears
I was watching and noticing a few things, from some of the great men throughout history. After that, I also looked at the Word of God, at the Great Men from back then and I found something. Take a Good look at the following passage of Scripture for yourselves and see what you think.
Exodus 15:26 “And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”
Do you see it, the word “Diligently”, the root word being “Diligent”? How does this work out for us, even though this was stated in the Book of Exodus? So very long ago. Does this passage of Scripture still work for anyone? Absolutely YES!
Proverbs 6:6-8 “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
So now we see, that the Word of God, tells us about the Ant. If you are willing, ants work and work, making the Ant Hill, searching for food and water. They seem to go on and on without end in their endeavor, just as the Lord created them to do. Thus and according to the number of Ant Hills in your yard, they are persistent (Diligent) to fault and even death. How odd is it that we humans, believing we are so much more capable, are not able to work as the ant does. Thus for many, we see failure, usage of Welfare and the like. Does the Lord reward them, absolutely, all according to their Work or the lack there of. So what exactly is the Word of God telling us? Get off your butt and go get a job and work for the Glory of the Lord…Be “Diligent!”
I sort of thought about this, as I was on my Front porch, during the rain and cold and was looking at our property and all the “Live Oak trees.” Without fail, every season the Trees will drop their Acorns, all in the hope of producing their Progeny. In other words, more “Live Oak trees.” If you notice though, it is never just One Acorn, it is many acorns, as in all over the place! Survival of the Species?! Ya think?
Keeping with my last article, about Health Issues, look at the Passage of Scripture in Exodus once again. There it is in Black and White, about diseases and that the Lord would keep those diseases from you…IF you do as HE says. Wow…”Diligence” once again and this time about our Health Once again, to follow the Lord…in True “Diligence.”
We live everyday, never once noticing that diligence is required. If you are on the couch and your hungry, you must get up and walk to the kitchen for food. Diligently…one step after another! Does this make sense to you? You will never get anywhere for any reason, unless you go and get it. In other words there is a need, thus you know where that need can be resolved, but you must move to get there, for what it is that is needed…in the end satisfaction…am I correct?!
This goes hand in hand with walking with the Lord! If you want a closer relationship with the Lord, certain requirements must be met first. A desire to walk with the Lord. A willingness to listen to what the Lord has to say to you. THEN…there must be some sort of action to take place. As we already know, actions speak louder than mere words. Or in another way, “The proof is in the pudding!” Trust me, lip-service will not work with the Lord God Almighty!
Time and time again, many people of the Bible, wanted or needed something of the Lord. They first had to be walking with the Lord in all sincerity. Then there was the need to Pray and ask the Lord for HIS Blessing. Then it would take time…if needed…ultimately the Lord would come through…IF it is according to HIS Perfect Will…for you! It always came when the Lord so Willed it to come and not before. The Lord has a time-table for everything…we must know this!
So now the question is, what do you need of the Lord?! Are you walking with the Lord in all Sincerity?! Is this something that will Glorify the Lord in your life?! Are you “Fervent” in your request?! Come on ya’ll…remember “Lip-Service” to the Lord is useless! You will never find an answer to your need, if you are half-hearted about everything…it is always “All or nothing!” When you work with due Diligence for the Lord, it will always be according to HIS Perfect Will in your life.
How much longer do you want to continue on, when everything could be much better than it is, IF you were Diligent for the Lord in all things?!
We oft wish things would be better than it appears, yet we often vacillate between, what we know is required and what we are willing to do. We are inundated with Instant Gratification, but is that what the Lord asks of us?! Does Instant Gratification…without the required work…bring about all that we ever hope for?! You know it never does. How many people do we know of, that seem to talk so very much and then do nothing. Does “quick Rich Schemes” come to mind? Have you ever known of such schemes that came to fruition? Of course not! And the answer to, Why is it that way…is always, where’s the needed work or who is doing the needed work? Trust me, if it is never your own work, according to the Word of God, it will be useless.
So there is Good Health, a good living, a happy Life…but there is always the needed work. And with that, there must be a needed Work Ethic…the process and purpose of the work. Seeking the Lord God first, is the only way for anything worthwhile to happen. The same as the need to eat, but the food is in the kitchen…right?!
I remember when I was in school, working to know all I would need to know, to do my work. It is so important, when one is in the Medical Field, to be educated, but that education requires Diligence on every level. The reason is obvious, someone…probably the Patient…would suffer for the lack of education that results in errors. Nobody wants to go to a Doctor or Health Facility, where errors are acceptable or even tolerated. It is true, we are all human and humans make mistakes! Thing is, if you make a mistake, let it be a small one and one that is possible to fix. Again, this is Diligence.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Nothing we ever do, should lack Diligence, for we work to Honor the Lord always!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
All Scripture comes from the King James version of the Bible.