Christian Virtues - Diligence/Industriousness
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Intro:
Intro:
Good evening.
Tonight we are going to talk about two Christian virtues that really go hand in hand — Diligence, and Industriousness.
These are so important.
We will be studying 2 Timothy chapter 2 pretty soon in Wed. Bible class, and perhaps the most famous verse from that chapter says:
2 Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The NKJV of that verse says:
2 Tim. 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Studying the Word of God is an endeavor of utmost importance, and diligence is required to do it properly.
We need to be like the Bereans, who in Acts 17:11 were described as “more noble (fair-minded) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures DAILY” to see whether the things they were being taught were so!
In that regard, the Bereans were people of VIRTUE!
And we need to be the same way!
When I or anyone else is preaching from this pulpit, the best sound to accompany the preaching is PAGES TURNING — Why? (To confirm that the things being taught line up with God’s Word!)
So diligence is extremely important, then, when it comes to our study of God’s Word!
But that’s not the only aspect of this virtue that we want to talk about tonight.
In fact, for the rest of the sermon this evening, I want to talk about it from the perspective of WORK ETHIC.
Work ethic is very important.
I think about men in the Bible who set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd because God was with them, and, it seems, because of their work ethic being a part of God being with them — Men like Daniel, and Joseph.
Young people, just a heads up here — If you want to really set yourself apart from the crowd in today’s work force, you work really hard and do your job with excellence, and you will!
There are not nearly enough people these days that believe in hard work.
Ecc. 9:10 says ...
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
So keep that in mind if you are getting ready to go on to college, or trade school, or enter the work force!
Diligence in Proverbs:
Diligence in Proverbs:
The word “diligent” (an adjective) appears 7 times in Proverbs in the KJV, and the word “diligence” (as a noun) appears another time.
I want us to go through this list of verses and this will help us really get an idea of how God’s Word views the concept of diligence.
Prov. 10:4
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
This Proverb shows that a “slack hand,” that is, one who practices shoddy workmanship (does not take the time to do things the right way) leads to poverty.
This is just common sense, but let’s say that you have a craftsman of some kind — Maybe a carpenter.
… But he’s not a very good carpenter!
His tables he makes are wobbly.
His chairs will give you splinters.
His door framing isn’t good, and so the door doesn’t open and shut properly.
I don’t know much about carpentry at all — But you don’t have to be an expert in carpentry to know poor workmanship when you see it!
So am I going to buy something from a carpenter that does shoddy work?
Probably not!
Hence, the poverty for the one who is not diligent!
Prov. 12:24
The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.
Which would you prefer?
To be a ruler (think, a MANAGER), or …
Be one of the lowest level employees that doesn’t get paid as well, doesn’t have the best hours to choose from, or benefits, etc.?
Well, if you want a better position at work, you’ve got to WORK for it!
Again, STAND OUT and get that promotion!
Prov. 12:27
The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession.
This is interesting.
But I think that it shows that hunting for sport ONLY is unethical.
You should eat what you kill! That’s my rule when it comes to hunting.
And there are laws about what is called “wanton waste.”
Why would someone go through all that work to go hunting (and it is work) and then not take the time to field dress and eat the meat?
It’s not very logical, but a lazy man might just do it.
“Diligence is a man’s precious possession” — This is contrasting the lazy hunter; so the implication is, think about a hunter who truly takes the time to do things right, and harvests that meat for his family.
(As a hunter, I like this verse)!
Prov. 13:4
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
Accumulation of wealth is a Biblical topic.
The Bible does not speak ill of one who is wealthy.
That can be a common misconception.
It does speak ill of one who IDOLIZES his riches, who is miserly and refuses to give and all he thinks about is money - 1 Tim. 6:10 addresses that.
But building wealth is Biblical, and passing wealth down as an inheritance for one’s children and grandchildren is Biblical.
And it is the DILIGENT that does so, not the lazy or indifferent.
(By the way, this is one verse that shows that “get-rich-quick” scheming and gambling would go against Biblical principles.)
Prov. 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Again, we just said it — “Get-rich-quick” schemes will get you!
Don’t fall for those!
Rather, build wealth gradually through hard work and planning!
Prov. 22:29
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
The KJV says this is a man who “is diligent in business.”
Again, we referenced at the beginning of this lesson men like Daniel and Joseph — They stood before kings!
Do you think their diligence had something to do with it?
Probably so, along with God’s providential blessing!
Prov. 27:23
Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds;
Prov. 27:24 goes on …
For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
In other words, you better be diligent to stay on top of things if you want your legacy to endure!
If you want your business, or your investments, or your house even, etc. to last for generations!
This is a principle of DILIGENCE — staying on top of things, keeping good records, not letting things break down into a state of disrepair, etc.
And then for the noun form “diligence,” we have Prov. 4:23:
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
That has SPIRITUAL implications.
A lot of what we’re talking about tonight has physical implications for everyday life (and 2 Pet. 1:3 tells us that the Bible instructs us of such matters) …
But don’t forget to make the connection to the spiritual as well!
(More on that with our last point in just a little bit).
Industry:
Industry:
Industry, or industriousness, is defined as “having the principle of being a hard worker, determined, diligent, and persistent.”
So, essentially, this is a synonym of diligence.
A person who is industrious will be:
One who does things the right WAY, in the right TIMING/will meet his deadlines (rather than procrastinating), showing up ON TIME, paying close ATTENTION TO DETAIL, will be DEPENDABLE and RELIABLE, and will not wait around to be told what to do.
(If he knows something needs to be done, he will do it).
That’s called taking INITIATIVE.
All of these things are important as they factor into the virtue of industriousness!
When it comes to illustrating industriousness, look no further than the example of the ant!
Prov. 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
The opposite of industriousness is laziness.
Listen to Prov. 26:14-16:
As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed. The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth. The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can answer sensibly.
“The early bird gets the worm” is another important saying we have that illustrates industriousness as well!
Prov. 20:13 teaches the same concept:
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
When it comes to our work ethic, we are told in Col. 3:23 to work like we are working for the Lord Himself!
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
It goes on to say - Col. 3:24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Finally tonight, I want to make sure and take note of this:
Diligence in Work Ethic will Bleed Over Into Our Spiritual Lives as Well:
Diligence in Work Ethic will Bleed Over Into Our Spiritual Lives as Well:
And the converse is also true — Laziness in work ethic will bleed over into our spiritual lives also!
We saw earlier, Prov. 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Again, there are spiritual applications here!
We MUST keep our hearts with all diligence, because EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES springs forth from our hearts.
Thus, if our hearts aren’t right, neither will our actions be right!
Thus, you show me a man who is not diligent at WORK, not diligent in upkeep of his HOME, not diligent in hobbies even (maybe he’s a golfer, but he just plays around and acts like he doesn’t really care and doesn’t strive for excellence ...) …
You show me a man like that, and you tell me … Do you really think he is going to be diligent is his SPIRITUAL life either?
Will he be diligent in prayer, in Bible study, in working in the kingdom, in evangelism?
Probably not!
So this is all connected!
A few more verses to look at here:
2 Pet. 1:5
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
2 Pet. 1:10
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
Heb. 6:9-12
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
2 Pet. 3:14-17
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
Joshua 22:5 a principle in the O.T.:
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
And finally, 2 Cor. 8:7 (Paul addressing the Corinthians’ giving):
But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.
Diligence — It’s pretty important!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
As you look at and reflect upon your everyday life in the work place, at school, on the football team, taking care of the kids at home, or wherever — Is your work ethic characterized by diligence?
If not, why not?
And even further, let’s address our SPIRITUAL lives, and ask this question — Would the Lord call us a diligent, faithful servant?
If not, why not?
(Invitation)