God is a worker God is a worker. God promises to reward the diligent with blessings, including the following: The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:4). As you may be aware, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into full effect on 25th May 2018. Christian Missionary Alliance, The pursuit of godly character requires two things: (1) put God first, and (2) remove forces that erode Gods influence, Character Counts! If youre lazily collecting a paycheck, thats stealing. It is just a game to him. 1. Certainly not! Noah would have been reduced to using much simpler technology (no power tools maybe no metal tools). It is so easy to just stay in bed, sleep a little longer, watch a few more minutes of TV, facebook just 5 more minutes, play one more level of a video game, etc. 2 Peter chapter 1 instructs us to live a diligent faith, one which continues to grow from the time we accept Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Diligence is the ability to maintain productivity in all seasons (Proverbs 27:23) 5. I. by Thomas Nelson Publishers. 'Giving all diligence, add to your faith ' -- 2 Peter i.5. Sounds began to come from the back seat indicating that an imminent stop would be well advised. It is a very lowly virtue. Title: Drama and Diligence I. This sermon was gleamed out of many SermonCentral contributors and any part of it can be used because it is for Gods glory that we preach His Word. Christian/Church Of Christ. Can disobedience to Gods Word bring financial loss? Noah may have worked up to 120 years constructing the ark! He wants somebody to spoonfeed him. LIVING DILIGENT FAITH - 2 PETER 1:1-11 For myself personally, I have found that the middle of any project can rather be the difficult part, especially if I look up and around with the dreaded realization, I am not even half done yet. Understand something. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. It may not be in the very ways you had expected. "Work is like an armour that protects a person against afflictions, and diligence is like a sword that wards off misfortune." Another scholar said: "Nothing is better than having a reason that is adorned with forbearance, a deed that is adorned with knowledge, and forbearance that is adorned with truthfulness!" Some scholars have said: Realizing that giving up will only lead to regret and frustration. And Thomas Fuller noted, To be employed in useless things is half to be idle. 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, Denomination: Dont fall into an entitlement mentality. However, difficulties do not excuse the need or erase the consequences. sermon: Giving All Diligence! Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. There is always the possibility that tomorrow may offer a better opportunity than today. Arise early! It is the word employed to describe the murderous hurry with which Herodias came rushing in to the king to demand John the Baptist's head. Paul had the right and authority to refuse physical labor among the Thessalonians. Now it strikes me that we may gain some instruction if we throw together the various objects to which in Scripture, and especially in this letter, we are exhorted to direct this virtue of diligence, and mark how comprehensive its range, and how, for all beauty of character and progress in the Divine life, it is regarded as an indispensable condition. Take it easy. It is not talent, effort, or programs, it is a lack of consistency. The "sluggard" is one who is habitually inactive or lazy. For example, consider your choice of major in school, or sought position in employment: Many people advocate a job that makes you happy. 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most, INTRODUCTION Laziness leaves one helpless to meet unexpected needs. If you must be driven to work, then something is seriously wrong. However, hard work is a universal and general burden, which we all must bear and overcome (. That is to say, unless you work with haste, with earnestness, and therefore with much putting forth of strength, your faith will not evolve the graces of character which is in it to bring forth. One of the first lessons of the Bible work ethic is that industriousness requires that you sacrifice any addictive pursuit of luxurious sleep and play (. These simple commands elevate ones work to the status of moral obligation to our fellow man and the Lord. That is a warning to those of us who make our living speaking. Are you there? I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! Lazy people genuinely feel tired! II. All the while the game of life is being played all around us and we are sitting on the bench, sound asleep. It is the dedicated fervency God calls us to invest in each task that we perform. Do hard jobs first and easier jobs second; then you can have fun. The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4, All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23. Thus we build it.. Remember, servants and slaves had little to no hope of promotion, and they always performed the jobs that nobody wanted to do, yet they were expected to work diligently and, Remember Joseph: He was unfairly sent to jail, but because of his integrity, honesty, dependability, work ethic - and because the Lord blessed him, he was remarkably promoted to chief of the prison. We live in a madcap world that work the whole night and sleep the whole day with no time for read more, Scripture: Therefore, we must be careful in choosing where and how to spend our precious time and energies. Invest early and invest often. Powered by Congregate, Fifth Street church of Christ And the hard road looks hard but once you do the hard thing in life, it turns out to be the easy thing. The Apostle paints himself, and his own way of Christian living, when he thus frequently exhorts his brethren to 'give all diligence.' Do not let risk inhibit you from investing your labor. 2023 Grace to You. After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. This is the most apparent lesson, because it is the most tangible. Schedule it. The easy way is the way of saying the boss isnt around, nobody is seeing me, it is good enough for government work. If you go to Corbin, KY and if you visit that museum at the restaurant, there is a sign that I took pictures of. read more, Scripture: "My heavens, open by fire now, in the name of Jesus." Beaverton, Oregon 97005 Here are some practical steps you can take: [Proverbs 12:24, 27; 31:27]. Remember, working hard is first a mindset (and so is laziness). A weak or vacillating soul may fall back on the fear of punishment or need to survive as a pivotal motivation for diligent labor; however, the mature Christian will ultimately be driven by sober love (. It is the pleasurable and luxurious way. 'On this very account' -- because He has given so much -- we are to lay 'all diligence' by the side of His gifts, which are useless to the sluggard. After that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. I already know what it is in my life. Independent/Bible. So many Christians just while away the hours, looking at the flowers, consulting with the rain. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Strive for a healthy balance between your work and your family life. B. the account of Joseph in Genesis 39). Foolishness is born in the heart of a child. Proverbs 22:15. If your wife is regularly wondering how the bills are going to be paid, and youre not taking initiative to lead, confess your failure in leadership and take control of your family finances. Like a door that easily revolves and yet groans, so does the lazy man, easily rolling over in his bed, complaining of being tired, and easily returning to his slumber. God turns our weakness into incredible strength. No man becomes a vigorous Christian by any other course than 'giving all diligence.' Speak up. Dawn, noon & moon God only holds us responsible for what we can do. Rivers upon rivers collected will make a sea. Youth offers a time of relative freedom from many adult cares and responsibilities, even if unperceived. On the other hand, 'who is that faithful servant whom his lord hath set ruler over his household? Paul challenges Timothy to focus like a soldier, train like an athlete, and work like a farmer. There are other verses in there that apply to the whole topic of hard work. 2. Hes not even taking care of the things he has, whereas a diligent man prizes everything that he has because he had to work to earn it. We must believe and hope, as God has promised, that such efforts can accomplish worthwhile, even eternal good (. Proper motivation, mixing a sense of obligation, love, hope, faith, and reputation, all help to drive and move us toward a diligent work ethic, much like that of Noah. Whether one works and how one works are matters of right and wrong before God! Title: Drama and Diligence Text: Acts 9:1-22 Thesis: Both the exceptional and the everyday experiences with the living Christ are valid and necessary in accomplishing God's work in and through our lives. This is the right of all preachers and laborers in the gospel (, Elsewhere and again, Paul declined his right to accept pay from the Corinthians for his preaching to them. The key in working out is consistency. (For example, as above, focus first on the long process of sustaining food before enhancing shelter, which you can do while you are waiting on the harvest.). The next time you go to Kentucky Fried Chicken, remember that those thousands of restaurants all over America and now all over the world were started by a man who at the age of 66 decided that he was not going to go the easy way. Salvation Army. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. read more, Scripture: God gave you a voice. Maintain an indomitable spirit, a can-do, will-do attitude. Be like the ant! God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were actively working through some preacher during these years of Divine longsuffering (, Only Noah and his family were saved after this time period (, Therefore, unless other preachers worked during this period and died before the flood, Noah and his family would have been the only shining light, which is corroborated by Gods approval of Noah (. This vanishing cultural work ethic emphasizes: Although work ethic and some of these words are foreign to our English translations of the Bible, most of the underlying concepts and virtues are taught by Scripture, which is our text and standard for Christians. 2. Thats a picture of the man who goes out hunting and he captures his prey, but because he is lazy, he doesnt even bother to roast it. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. 'On this very account' -- because He has given so much -- we are to lay 'all diligence' by the side of His gifts, which are useless to the sluggard. Sacrifice and hard work are part and parcel of the Christian life. God waited patiently, hoping for mankind to repent while Noah was building the ark (I Peter 3:20)God specifically worked with mankind for 120 years before sending the flood (Genesis 6:3)Question: What do we mean by the terms, "diligence", "work . Wisdom Sermon Submitted 5 years . read more, Scripture: Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds (Proverbs 27:23). Always be faithful on your duty post until the job is done. Abandoning laziness and growing in diligence means you must be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Ask the Spirit to make you a hard worker for God. Part of the reason and joy of work is the ability to help others. And Thomas Fuller noted, to be employed in useless things is half to be employed in things. Born in the name of Jesus. growing in diligence means you must driven... I already know what it is in My life that tomorrow may offer better! Name of Jesus. Timothy to focus like a farmer it may not be in name! Entitlement mentality: Dont fall into an entitlement mentality in diligence means you be! His household us to send order and donation receipts to the status of moral to..., open by fire now, in the heart of a child the Holy.. 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