SEEST THOU A MAN DILIGENT. . . ?
Simply put, Diligence is hard work. It is the ability to channel one’s energy and resources into a given or several tasks. It is the vehicle you need to transport you from vision to actualization. In the journey of life, you need vision, planning and prayer. But without diligence all these will end in frustration. May you never be frustrated in the name of Jesus. As much as prayer is good, it cannot take the place of hard work. Actually, I regard prayer as one of the ingredients involved in diligence. You must diligently pray for your dreams to come true. As the saying goes “Ora et labora” which means work and pray.
When you work hard, you will get to your destination. You will also find yourself in the company of great men. You will be a leader and eventually an instructor.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29
Can you see that? If you diligently pursue your business (marriage, education, ministry etc), you shall not fall but STAND. To stand is not to fall. It means not failing. You shall not fail. It is only the diligent that STAND at the end of the struggle. They would not give up when the going gets tough. Things may not be as they think they should be, yet they keep on going. Opposition may come, they keep on going. Things expected may not come as at when due, yet they keep on going. At the end, while the lazy are fallen and bowed down together, they remain standing.
Not only does diligence help you to stand, it affects where you stand and who you stand with. “He shall stand before kings”. Wow! The word “kings” here means successful people. You shall stand among the great, and not among failures. Diligence can give you more than your inheritance. There was the story of a British Prime Minister. He was the son of an Aristocratic family. His elder brother inherited the family title by right of being the first born. Does this mean he would have to play second fiddle all his life? He pursued his education, military career as well as politics. He became a member of parliament and later served two terms as a Prime Minister and one as Leader of Opposition. Eventually he was knighted and sat with his elder brother in the House of Lords. That is what diligence can do. It enhances your stature in life and destiny.
“And not before mean men”. Diligence ensures that you don’t company with “mean men” These are the destitutes of life; men of no character or virtue; beggars rather than achievers; frustrated and lazy complainants and not successful. These will not be your companion. You will operate beyond their level. They are men without means while you are a man means. From today, make diligence part of your life. There is no future for the lazy and sluggard. But the sky is not the limit but the take-off point for the diligent.
MEDITATION: The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the slothful shall be under tribute.
