Web School of Wisdom

DIGNITY OF DILIGENCE

-          The contribution of diligence to every step of success cannot be underrated.

-          Diligence is always at the background of excellence

-          Diligence = Dedicated commitment to duty / responsibility.

BIBLE CHARACTERS AND DILIGENCE

• Moses was called while feeding the flock at the far side of the desert

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” Exodus 3:1-3

• David was the youngest of his father’s children but not the weakest, in fact he was the most diligent

“And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.” I Samuel 17:14-15

 “And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” I Samuel 17:32-37

• Elisha was called while working on the farm

“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.” 1 Kings 19:19

• Gideon was called while threshing the corn

“And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.” Judg 6:11

• Peter was called at the peak of his fishing career

“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” Luke 5:1-11

JESUS AND DILIGENCE

• Jesus took after God in diligence – God’s diligence is demonstrated in the fact that He does not sleep nor slumber.

“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:4

• As a child in the temple He was always about doing the work of His father.

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” Luke 2:46

• As an adult He said, He will work when it is day, because the night cometh when no one can work.

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4

• He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and went about doing good. Acts 10:38

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38

SEASON OF DILIGENCE

-          There is a time in life when hard work is a pride.

“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Lamentation 3:27

-          There is another time when your diligence is a disgrace

-          You must be diligent to bear your fruit in your season

-          Don’t forget that to succeed when success is not worthy of celebration is a big failure.

PRAYER

This year my diligence will attract the grace of God.