091. Chapter 86: Diligence
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Diligence
God has granted man a soul and a body, as well as the ability to be occupied and to glorify Him with both. Adam, even while in the state of perfection, had physical labor assigned to him. “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
After the fall it is also God’s will that man be occupied, and He appoints to every man his labor. “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” (1 Corinthians 7:20). God wills that man not only perform his calling, but that he do so diligently. This virtue we shall now discuss. In Hebrew this is expressed by the word charoots, which means: “sharp,” “pointed,” “diligent.” In Greek it is expressed by the word akribeia. This is expressive of dealing with a matter with utmost care and prudence for the purpose of assuring that the project might be executed and turn out well. Thus, diligence implies considerably more than working only. In turn the word akribos is derived from this, which means “diligent.” “He spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord” (Acts 18:25); “See then that ye walk circumspectly (that is diligently, precisely)” (Ephesians 5:15). The Greek also use the word epimeleia, which is a derivative of melei. This conveys the dealing with a matter in a manner which exceeds the ordinary -- with the utmost care. “... seek diligently till she find it” (Luke 15:8). The commonly used word is spoude from which our words speed and to speed are derived. It is thus expressive of readiness and being industrious. “He that ruleth, let him do it with diligence” (Romans 12:8).
Diligence is the exertion of the spiritual and physical powers of abeliever whereby he willingly, joyously, and earnestly executes that task which God assigns him, doing so because it is the will of God. This virtue only functions in a believer. The unconverted are also diligent in their own way, but their diligence differs as much from the diligence of believers as life differs from death. The diligence of a natural man proceeds from a perverted heart filled with vices. His heart has neither desire nor love for that task as being the will of God. Instead, his objective is to earn a living, please people, or to attain some other objective. That diligence which is a Christian virtue, however, proceeds from a regenerate and believing heart. Faith unites the soul with Christ, and proceeds through Christ unto God as a reconciled Father. This in turn begets love toward God which motivates one to please the Lord, and thus believers view their task as having been commanded them by God. This engenders a willingness to accept this task, joyfulness in performing it, and industriousness to bring it to a good end -- all this because it is the will of God and in order that God might be pleased with that work. The object of diligence is the task which God assigns us. God, in His wisdom and goodness, has ordained that the one man shall live from the other. For that purpose He has instituted various ranks among men and has given each his own task. To one He assigns a task in the church, to another in civil government, and to the other to labor in the home. To each man he assigns a calling: The one becomes a fisherman, the other a farmer, the other a businessman, and the other a craftsman. Among them there is variety as well: The one is in need of services, whereas the other renders his services. A believer takes note of his station and condition, simultaneously recognizing it to be a divine appointment; and with David, he surrenders himself to the service of the Lord. “O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant” (Psalms 116:16). He is thus satisfied with the Lord’s appointment for him, irrespective of whether it is prestigious or insignificant, easy or difficult -- it does not matter to him. Since the Lord is sovereign, and at the same time wise, good, and a rewarder of all His faithful servants, the believer accepts his task as one to which he has been called by God (1 Corinthians 7:20).
Exertion of One’s Spiritual and Physical Faculties The essence of diligence consists in the exertion of the faculties of both soul and body. The soul of a diligent person is fully engaged to execute the task at hand well.
First, he engages his intellect to consider in what manner, and by what means, he may execute that task in the best possible manner. His mind is focused upon the task while being engaged in it. David conducted himself thus in all that he did: “... a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters” (1 Samuel 16:18); “He ... guided them by the skilfulness of his hands” (Psalms 78:72). Solomon says concerning a wise servant: “A wise servant shall have rule” (Proverbs 17:2); “A man shall be commended according to his wisdom” (Proverbs 12:8).
Secondly, the will is also engaged toward this duty in the following manner:
(1) In willingness. This is the reason why the construction of the walls of Jerusalem prospered, “for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
(2) Joyfully. We shall not work as a slave -- and thus contrary to our will, with a fretful heart, and for fear of being beaten. Rather, we shall do so joyfully, since we may serve such a great Lord and compassionate Father. Regardless of whether it is a spiritual or physical task, the diligent do their task joyfully, being an assignment from their Lord and Father. “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalms 100:2).
Thirdly, the emotions and affections are also engaged. The diligent person will be industrious, zealous, and find delight in his work. Just as a spirited horse, being ready to run, will kick against the door of the stable in order that he might get out, the diligent person is likewise so industrious that he is already involved in his task before the other person is half ready. “I made haste, and delayed not to keep Thy commandments” (Psalms 119:60). They are as “a flaming fire” (Psalms 104:4). “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29).
Fourthly, the diligent person also engages the powers and faculties of the body for any physical labor to be engaged in. He neither fears perspiration nor fatigue; doing the will of the Lord is worth this to him. He considers it an honor to come before the Lord with a perspiring countenance, showing himself before Him exhausted and fatigued, saying: “This is due to the delightful and joyous engagement in Thy work.” “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The Objective of the Diligent Person The laborer’s objective motivates him, and this in turn determines the means he uses to attain his objective. It is thus that the diligent person is motivated by his objective: to do the will of God. There are times when he could do without work as such; however, it is his life to do the will of God. Whatever the diligent do, they do it because it is the will of God. They therefore dare neither to engage in any task which is sinful nor to make use of any sinful means for a task which in and of itself is neutral. When they are self-employed, doing their task quietly, they hold God before them as commanding them to do so. If it is their calling to work for and serve someone else, they perceive in this the will of God. This is the principle, substance, and purpose of all that they do: They serve God. The diligent person also labors to make a living, provide for his family, and give something to the needy. Ultimately this is all a doing of the will of God, however, since it pleases the Lord to provide him with all this by means of labor. The apostle Paul teaches us that when we serve men we must do so as serving God: “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as ... the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:57). A Lack of Diligence Rebuked By demonstrating what diligence is as a Christian virtue, the following persons ought to be convicted: First, all worms of the earth, who burrow in the earth as moles, who are indeed engaged in labor but, nevertheless, are without this virtue. Since God has imposed labor upon man, such persons pretend that their labor is religiously motivated. They must know, however, that work as such is not a religious activity. In order for it to have a religious dimension, it must be engaged in with that disposition, in that manner, and with that objective as we have just delineated. Our labor becomes a religious activity when we perform it with a heart united with Christ -- and through Him with God -- and thereby view God as a reconciled God and Father, and thus have a childlike disposition. The believer deems the labor of his calling to be a task imposed upon him by God. He fully embraces God’s will and does his work with childlike obedience, having as his objective thereby to serve and please God. You miss all this, and you must thus perceive that your labor does not have a religious perspective; rather it is but a service which you render to and for yourselves. God has pronounced this curse upon all the unconverted: “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” Genesis 3:17
Secondly, many practice the opposite vice, namely laziness. This is such a shameful sin that the most lazy man does not wish to be labelled with it. Such a man ought to know that a lazy person is a disgrace to the church, no matter what his station in life may be. Regardless of whether he is a government official, minister, elder, deacon, married or unmarried person, tradesman, businessman, laborer, man or woman -- if such a person is a member of the church of Christ, he or she is a disgrace to Christ and His congregation. Who is lazy?
(1) He who is without work, for a diligent person will always find work. A lazy person complains that there is no work, for he cannot tolerate work. He has conducted himself in such a manner that no one wishes to have him in his employ, nor give him any work. He avoids opportunities to work, and if a position opens up, he excuses his idleness by saying: “I can’t work there.” However, a diligent person seeks and finds work; if the one thing does not work out, he tries something else.
(2) A lazy person is one who loves to sleep long, and who delights in turning from one side to the other in his bed, thus enabling him to slumber that much longer and that much more sweetly. Solomon describes the sluggard as such: “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15); “How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep” (Proverbs 6:9-10); “As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed” (Proverbs 26:14).
(3) A lazy person is careless. He is disorderly, brings everything into disarray, and leaves it as such. I am not suggesting that all who put their accomplishments on display are diligent; nevertheless, carelessness is a sign of laziness. Occasionally it occurs that a diligent person is so occupied that some things have to wait in preference to others; however, this is contrary to his wishes. But, to wear torn clothing, to have a house full of dust and spider webs, and to let everything be dirty, are indicative of being a lazy person. “Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (Proverbs 23:21); “I went by the field of the slothful ... and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down” (Proverbs 24:30-31).
(4) A lazy person is afraid of work. He fiddles around, walks to and fro, surveys his task before he begins, and if neither necessity would compel him nor shame would pressure him, he would refrain from working. At one time there is this obstacle and then again another. Then it is either too hot or too cold, the tools are not adequate, or the supplies are deficient. He believes that there will still be time to do the task, and he will do it at a later time. When he lies upon his bed, or walks about idly, he will form a conception of his work and contemplate how it ought to be done. Then he will contemplate how desirable the advantages are which proceed from diligence. He resolves to engage himself as such and to courageously undertake the task. It is as if he already did the work; however, when the time is there, he cannot get himself to do it. “A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom” (Proverbs 19:24); “The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets” (Proverbs 22:13). When the sluggard actually does work, it is impossible to observe him without abhorrence. It is as if his legs drag behind him, as if his legs sank into the earth up to his knees, and as if all that he touched was tar and thus cleaved to his hands. He will carefully examine what he is working on, change its position in various ways, will fit it, measure it again, and will stroke it once more; and thus time passes on. In the meantime, he will even insist upon double wages.
(5) A lazy person is a man full of ideas and imagination. As far as he is concerned, matters are not handled well; it should be handled thus and thus. He dreams of great things; in his imagination he dreams himself to be one thing, and then again another thing, always knowing best when judgment must be given in a given situation. “The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason” (Proverbs 26:16). He believes that he has learned the wrong trade. If only he were in such and such a situation and had such and such a job, all would be well. He does not care for his profession, however, and occupies himself with trifles. He will construct one thing, disassemble something else, and do everything else -- except the labor of his calling.
Arguments to Deter Laziness
We have thus fully depicted the lazy person for you, so that everyone might be convinced how much or how little he resembles such a person. And truthfully, some of the godly are also not entirely free from this. Even if they are diligent, very much is lacking as far as the pure nature of diligence (as previously described) is concerned. In order to further deter everyone from laziness, we shall hold before you some of its evil consequences.
First, God hates the sluggard, which he demonstrates by the fact that He did not want the firstborn of an ass. It either had to be redeemed, or else its neck had to be broken (Exodus 13:13). What a dreadful state it is to be hated and abhorred by God, and to be worthy of having our neck broken or our skull crushed!
Secondly, a sluggard is hated and despised by all honorable men. Men will have compassion for a poor person, but who will have compassion for a sluggard? “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him” (Proverbs 10:26). Such a person is a nuisance and troublesome to have around.
Thirdly, a sluggard is a burden to himself. He must work and he does not want to work. When he begins to work, it is a double burden for him. It is as if he has to pass through a hedge of thorns with his naked body, thorns pricking him from all sides. “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns” (Proverbs 15:19).
Fourthly, the sluggard brings himself and his loved ones to extreme poverty, thus being worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8). His grief and destitute condition cause him to waste away. “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing” (Proverbs 13:4); “The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh” (Ecclesiastes 4:5).
Fifthly, laziness is the fountain of all manner of sin, vain thoughts, fornication 2 Samuel 11:2, backbiting Romans 1:30, unrighteousness, and despair. And thus one sin begets the other, upon which at last eternal death follows as its wages (Romans 6:23). Therefore, be fearful of laziness. He who is lazy in temporal matters will be lazy in spiritual matters, and he who is diligent in spiritual matters will be diligent in temporal matters.
Believers Exhorted to be Diligent To the same degree that a believer hates and flees laziness, so earnest must he be in endeavoring to be diligent, doing so in the spiritual manner as has been proposed. A godly person cannot but be enamored when viewing this virtue in its beauty, and will earnestly endeavor to perform his physical labors in a spiritual manner. To be further stirred up in this matter, consider the following:
First, there is God’s command. You have chosen the Lord to be your God and have surrendered yourself to His service. A servant will ask his master: “What would you have me do?” You ought to conduct yourself as such. Therefore, hear God’s command: “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). It appears that this was greatly lacking in this congregation, for he exhorts them to that end also in his second letter: “For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12). These words are also addressed to you.
Secondly, diligence is an ornament to the Christian, and it removes the slanderous accusation which worldly citizens make concerning the godly; that they frequent all church services, catechism lessons, lectures, and meetings (going from the one to the other), while neglecting their calling, not giving attention to their families, and being lazy. Citizens of the world think much of diligence and have little use for godliness. You, however, ought to join them, so that everyone may be convinced that godliness renders people both diligent and upright. You will thus be an ornament to the church of God, put those to shame who slander godliness, and stir up others.
Thirdly, God holds before us His own example: to labor six days and to rest on the seventh (Exodus 20:9-11). The Lord Jesus says, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). It thus behooves us to be industrious. How else would you dare to expect a blessing from the Lord? Even the animals teach you to be diligent.
Fourthly, God promises His blessing upon diligence. This blessing is not inherent in industry itself, for “it is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows” (Psalms 127:2). Rather, it is all dependent upon God’s blessing. Moses therefore prayed, “Establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it” (Psalms 90:17). God causes His commandment to prosper with those who comply with it. Why is it that an ungodly man who cultivates and sows his field harvests much fruit and that a godly person, if he were not to cultivate his land and sow the seed in an appropriate manner, would come home with empty hands at harvest time? Is the earth capable in and of itself to bring forth grain? Is it not God who causes it to come forth from the earth? Why then do the ungodly receive so much and the godly so little? Does God prefer the ungodly over the godly? No; rather, God blesses what He commands, and thus the ungodly are blessed because they use the means ordained by God. If someone fails to do so, he will also miss the fruit. If, however, a godly person is industrious, he will not only have fruit, but his fruit will also be blessed. This is according to promise: “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4); “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule” (Proverbs 12:24); “The soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:4