1 Corinthians 15:58, Denomination: [Proverbs 10:26; 19:15], 15. Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but, For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that, Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and, Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Hurray! However, hard work is a universal and general burden, which we all must bear and overcome (. Cut some corners. I am going to tell you one of my favorite stories this morning because it illustrates perfectly how many of us think about the relationship between what we do and what God does. Work while watching (16-18a) He will serve before kings. There are those in Rather, find satisfaction in simply doing good work for God and men. On the one hand there are all great gifts and boundless possibilities as to life and godliness, and on the other diligence as the condition on which all these shall actually become ours, and, passing into our lives, will there produce all these graces which the Apostle goes on to enumerate. Salvation Army. Be the best prisoner you can be! B. People will not have that, but if you bring them some medicine from far away, very rare and costly, and suggest to them some course out of the beaten rut of ordinary, honest living, they will jump at that. 4. read more, Scripture: Perhaps another position would provide greater harmony in your home. Again we come to the more familiar translation of the word as in the text. Diligence is working out one`s dreams (Proverbs 13:4) In the process, Peter shares in this chapter 7 attributes we grow in as we become more spiritually mature. We have been looking at the spiritual gifts of the Body of Christ in Romans 12: prophecy (speaking Gods Word to others), And whatever. Christian/Church Of Christ. The most critical realm to exercise our work ethic is that of the spiritual. let him labor, working with his hands what is good, Galatians 6:9; Colossians 3:22-24; Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:24; Ephesians 6:8; I Corinthians 15:58, As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is, The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly., The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but. III. Many of you have Remember, working hard is first a mindset (and so is laziness). The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious (Proverbs 12:27). You may have heard the term, a match made in heaven. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations are from the New King James Version, copyright 1994 Our public behavior, among those who, Certainly, unbelievers will use whatever sins or perceived inconsistencies we exhibit as a means to speak evil of our Lord and dismiss us, Him, and the gospel (. While it is true that All things are difficult before they are easy (Thomas Fuller). Please be aware that these items are sent out from our office in the UK. God gave you two hands. How can I read through Psalms and Proverbs in a month? Work is our place of God's provision and a place of witness. Pro 6:8 but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter. The phrase implies that diligence is our contribution. If obedience to parents or an employer, or a government, is contradictory to obedience to God, we have to make a choice. Hard work! However, not only is our reputation evidenced by our diligence in labor, so is our Gods reputation! Security promotes productivity Consider how much more would be accomplished for the kingdom of Christ if you worked as hard in ministry as you do for a paycheck. That is to say, when you watch out for your own affairs, and then when you take care of the business that you are employed in, you will be honored. Plan it. He was now 66 years old, the time when most men retire. Can disobedience to Gods Word bring financial loss? A husband and father must work extremely hard. Diligence in Hinduism "Who so performeth - diligent, content - the work allotted him, whatever it be, lays hold of perfectness!"-The Bhagavad Gita 18:45. If you do, God will punish you, sooner or later. Theme: Character development is not an important part of life?it IS life! Poverty is the portion of the person who can work but is not willing to do so. Sermon illustrations on Work. How does our work ethic compare to that of Jesus? The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Proverbs 12:24). That is your moment of truth, when you cast off laziness and embrace diligence! Self-Denial and Thrift Do Not Enslave Yourself to Debt, Bond Servitude. You will be rewarded. [Proverbs 13:11, 25; 15:16-17; 23:4-5; 24:3-4], 9. Just start somewhere. Discontentment will get us nowhere, but only humble trust and steadfast faith. The hero that we are going to look at today is a man named Nehemiah. Lazy people genuinely feel tired! It is the pleasurable and luxurious way. We werent in any hurry, and soon it was past lunch time. Industry, thoroughness, attentiveness. And, says Peter, on this very account, because you have all these requisites for such a life already given you, see that you 'bring besides into' the heap of gifts, as it were, that which you and only you can bring, namely, 'all diligence.' No man becomes a vigorous Christian by any other course than 'giving all diligence.' Receive the gift of righteousness However, Like a Girl In 2 Peter chapter one, before Peter even mentions the first of the virtues to add to our lives, he mentions, One single year of faith has virtually no value: 2 Peter 1:5, One day of being morally courageous has no impact in the long run: 2 Peter 1:5, Being a good Bible study for a few weeks isnt going to give us much wisdom: 2 Peter 1:6. 1. However, the answer is not always to play life completely safe. Why not fifteen, thirty, forty-five, an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year, a lifetime? [Proverbs 1:8; 2:1-2; 3:1-2; 4:1-2, 10-11, 20; 5:1-2; 6:20; 7:1-3; 8:32-36; 22:17-21; 23:15-25], 20. As the calendar records the years, it becomes increasingly evident that the easy way rests upon a hazardous foundation of shifting sands, whereas the hard way builds solidly a foundation of confidence that cannot be swept away. Discuss with your family how you can hold one another accountable to be diligent workers for God and men. A pennyworth of some familiar root will cure an illness that nothing else will touch. 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. 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. Joshua chapter 10:6-15 Proverbs 6:6-11. Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. The Lord will do special things through this message. During the Season of Easter we When will you get up from your sleep? This is Labor Day Weekend, the weekend when everybody who can go somewhere goes somewhere so they can play for one last weekend because the real hard work of the last part of the year starts on Tuesday morning. Of one fellow-worker, Paul said, "And we . One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. Proverbs 18:9, The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. A. A. whatever your image of God Go bigger. I. II Peter was written from prison during a time of intense persecution and a time of false teachings which condoned a virulent sexual permissiveness and moral relativity. Bryan Wilkerson The Job Introduction. 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. If you want to be a strong Christian -- that is to say, a happy man -- you must bend your back to the work and 'give all diligence.' The only thing certain is that failure to try will always fail! God teaches us to trust in him and in his Son our Saviour. read more, Scripture: . 09/18/11 The true difficulties of this life are more often rooted in our desire to overcome, or lack thereof. Money is not inherently evil. 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. If he has not proven himself by working hard for his parents in the past, his training at present, or his preparations for the future, then he will not work hard for you or your children! All the while the game of life is being played all around us and we are sitting on the bench, sound asleep. Note the wide field of action for this homely grace. Somebody said to me, Well, what about the work-aholics? I answered, One sermon at a time, please. Peter's first letter shows that he believed that Christians were 'chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.' That is a warning to those of us who make our living speaking. The Old Testament says, 'Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings.' "All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love. We learned that wisdom is given by God to us so that listen: description: (hide) If we have felt lethargic or indifferent about our calling, we have a desperate need to keep our heart with all diligence, to be strong in the Lord by donning the full armor of God, following the example of the Captain of our salvation. ;-). our society who think Youth offers a time of relative freedom from many adult cares and responsibilities, even if unperceived. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. read more, Scripture: (Great for Labor Day), Scripture: Introduction - An Example of Diligence; Noah may have worked up to 120 years constructing the ark! Strive for a healthy balance between your work and your family life. read more, Scripture: TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 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! Part 3 Serve Like A Girl These qualities are all related in one way or another to diligence and are qualities that, without exception, by every culture around the world throughout time. Ecclesiastes 11:1-8 After that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27. Hard work! He just sleeps his life away. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (Proverbs 10:4). Charismatic, Thesis: The writers of this ancient wisdom literature inspired by God try to convey the message to us of Dont be lazy be diligent! In other words Make a commitment to work hard at being all God wants you to be!, Series: Practical Proverbs All that galaxy of light and beauty will shine forth on the one condition of diligence, and it will not appear without that. However, all work. 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 (. Young Women: DO NOT under any circumstances whatever you do, DO NOT marry a lazy man! That means that if you are a servant and you work hard, you will some day be promoted over a son who is legally due the inheritance. But God promises our labor to not be vain in the Lord. This means to take pains, to strive for something. 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 . Yes, some have more than others, and no, my experiences do not enable me to exactly or completely sympathize with your own. The same idea is seen when it comes to the quality of diligence. God, Prayer and hard work Dont fall into an entitlement mentality. The New Testament assures us that the noblest form of that promise shall be fulfilled in the Christian man's communion with his Lord here, and perfected when the diligent disciple shall 'be found of Him in peace,' and stand before the King in that day, accepted and himself a king. 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. I am preaching about the value of hard work. SERMON OUTLINE: B. Here is what has helped me push through: Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017, Home | About Us | Sermons | Videos | Resources | Members | Contact Us If we will put it forth, then the gifts that God has given, and which are not really ours unless we put it forth, will pass into the very substance of our being, and unfold themselves according to the life that is in them; even the life that is in Jesus Christ Himself, in all forms of beauty and sweetness and power and blessedness. It seems to me very like Peter that there should be so much in this letter about the very commonplace and familiar excellence of diligence. Otherwise, desperate poverty, want, and need will come upon you as suddenly as a prowling thief or an armed robber! We must gather ourselves together under the impulse of an all-pervading and noble earnestness, too deep to be demonstrative, and which does not waste itself in noise, but settles down steadily to work. There is always some reason why they could not work or succeed, and it is never their fault. Now that you know what it is, name it. Log In read more, Scripture: THEME: CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY FOR GROWTH Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:1011). What an incredibly powerful quality long term diligence can be in our lives, because obviously: Samuel Johnson was spot on when he observed, Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance. 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 read more, Scripture: It is the way of destruction, poverty, starvation and desperation. So I need to learn to be diligent in things that matter, like guarding my heart (Proverbs 4:23), nourishing my relationships, and taking advantage of opportunities to grow spiritually and help others do the same. 'Raw haste' is 'half sister to delay.' The ground was covered with weeds and the stone wall was in ruins. In 1956, 16 years later, he was successful, but he was not known. This message continues our consideration of unhypocritical love as described in Romans 12. Baptist. Beware the arrogant, consuming, entitled, lazy, leech-like attitude, which can infect an entire generation, and which has helped destroy many nations before our own. For some reason we seem to think that since God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present Creator of the universe and anything else in existence that he should do everything on a grand scale. Joshua was given a task that was God sized and with God's help He was able to do extra-ordinary things. God turns our weakness into incredible strength. Compare your life to those who live in the bad part of town, and compare that life to that lived by those on the other side of the world. This is the man who makes silly excuses for not going to work. The whole world is focused upon this case anxiously awaiting the outcome. It is called The Hard Way. It is comparatively easy to prosper by trickery, the violation of confidence, oppression of the weak, sharp practices, cutting corners, all those methods we are so prone to pileate and condone as business shrewdness. One of the most talked-about shows on television today is called, The Office. I am talking today of working hard for the Lord! Many people move but are not diligent. There are other verses in there that apply to the whole topic of hard work. Certain tasks must be accomplished first. Love what you do as a vocation, regardless of what it is. Being tired is no excuse for bypassing the opportunity to work, and no one appreciates the murmuring, because such complaining belittles the toil that others produce. 2. I did not read every single verse that addresses this subject. Whether one works and how one works are matters of right and wrong before God! It does not fail (, Self-Initiative Do Not Wait to be Coerced. Attitude and diligence makes the difference. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. This type of love is so obvious, so basic that to be void of such love is comparable to complete unbelief and apostasy: Frequently, while the diligent are working late into the night or rising early in the morning, they will ask themselves, Why am I doing this? Others may taunt them, Why are you working, For people to persist in pursuing a difficult goal and work is difficult (, Faith is essential to our hope, because we hope for what we cannot see (, Noah demonstrated his great faith by his diligent obedience in building an ark for a flood he had never seen (, Therefore, we must understand and believe that God requires our diligent labor. 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. '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. I have been doing this in Waynesboro for the last 3.5 years. The Old Testament says, 'The hand of the diligent maketh rich'; the New Testament promises unchangeable riches to the same hand. Hebrews 10:26-39, Habakkuk 1, Habakkuk 2:2-4. Next time you tell yourself this lie and waste your valuable time, look in the mirror and decide who you are going to be. 4 Fathers (Parents), The Apostle uses a very remarkable expression here, which is rendered in our Bible imperfectly 'giving all diligence.' Use them. Understand the character building that is presently going on in you. When you are asked to serve in some way, dont attempt to take the path of least resistance (because of laziness). 1. read more, Scripture: I knew a brother who thrived in the work place, because he happily accepted all the inglorious positions that everyone else disdained, but yet through his zeal, determination, and optimism, he reinvented and refashioned the positions into those that were the most cool and sought after by those that followed him. Registered User In Scripture diligence is highly commended. We went down to Mississippi and saw my brother, then went to Memphis, to Graceland (thats another story), to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the biggest tourist trap east of the Mississippi River, and were meandering our way back up toward Chicago. We must choose to obey God rather than people. And the very reason for exercising it is the completeness of God's gift. The only road that goes to the top is the hard road. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. Proverbs 15:19, The laborers appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on. Proverbs 16:26 The field to be cultivated is too wide and the possible harvest for the toiler too abundant, and the certain crop of weeds in the sluggard's garden too poisonous, to allow dawdling to be considered a venial fault. Realizing that giving up will only lead to regret and frustration. Were born wanting to go the easy way. The phrase implies that diligence is our contribution. Do not wait for someone to tell you that you need to get busy and work. Proverbs 4:20-27. Dedicate part of your profit and increase to helping others, and thereby avoid the cruel descent into oppression and destructive desire for wealth at all costs. A fruitful faith, a sure calling, a cloudless hope, a peaceful welcome at last! Certainly not! We sent you an email. God tells us that anxious care and bitter sighing wont help. Preaching Today is blessed to have him as an editorial A few months ago, I came across an article in The Boston Globe about religion in the workplace. An approved worker diligently studies the Word and seeks to apply it to The lazy man always puts off for tomorrow. You shall not consent to him or listen to him, Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. The more you sleep, the harder it will be to wake up from this way of life. Noah would have been reduced to using much simpler technology (no power tools maybe no metal tools). The rest is history. It is the reason we enjoy electricity, modern medicine, technology, and all the other comforts of modern life. John Ortberg is a master communicator, whether through preaching or through writing. The key in working out is consistency. It may not be in the very ways you had expected. "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 Here is what has helped me: As mentioned, the beginning or end of an important task can be the most difficult. The attorneys on both sides have laid out their case for the jury to make a decision. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Hebrews 12:15). Get up and in the name of God do something Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Its not what job do you want me to do, but how many benefits can I get? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. Proverbs 6:6, Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. A work ethic is a set of moral values or principles for determining what is right and wrong in our work. We must believe and hope, as God has promised, that such efforts can accomplish worthwhile, even eternal good (. By both aspects of this brief life we should be spurred to haste. Or maybe you look at all the wickedness in the world, and you fear Lazy people never do anything, but yet they always complain about being tired! Understand that in working on anything you are creating future opportunities for yourself. Even after the day is done, children do not go away. Of one fellow-worker, Paul said, And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found, The more I study various virtues I am impressed that they are all interrelated. Romans 12:11 Paul had the right and authority to refuse physical labor among the Thessalonians. b. Message 33 in our exposition of Romans. Here is the application. he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men (Proverbs 22:29). Its the picture of the man who is so lazy that the food is put in front of him and he just dips his hand in the soup or in the dish and is too lazy to bring it to his mouth. After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. Let me show you a clip In Scripture diligence is highly commended. It is tough, but it is the only one that goes where you want to go with your life. It is the way of working with your hands. It says, Take a short cut. read more, Scripture: The confirmation of the 'call,' of the 'election,' both in fact and in my consciousness depends upon my action. Suppose someone were to show up at your workplace tomorrow, shove a microphone in your face, and ask, "How do you think your work affects One of the most talked-about shows on television today is called, The Office. Thesis: The primary message of Proverbs is Get wisdom or act and look like a fool! If you travel too much (according to your wifes/familys honest, loving assessment), seek to curb your travel, if possible. It is preparation, long-range planning, goal setting, future orientation, diligence, forethought, preparation, showing up for work on time, giving eight hours of work for eight hours pay, doing what youre told and then doing what needs to be done even if youre not told. Dawdlers will do nothing. I. (Proverbs 4:20-27) The easy road takes you down to the bottom. 0 . If you fail to persuade someone of their laziness, then recognize the signs, back away carefully, and move on (, Some of the lazy mans excuses may be legitimate, in that they represent true or probable difficulties. Pull some strings. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. The easy road looks easy but once you get on it, it turns into the hard road. But for all that he is not a bit afraid of putting the other side of the truth, and saying to us in effect. For riches do not endure forever and the crown is not secure for all generations. Proverbs 27:23. It is difficult to prosper by the keeping of promises, the deliverance of value and goods and services and deeds and denouncing the so-called shrewdness with sound merit and good ethics. But, because he simply wanted to eliminate any occasion for false teachers and sectarians to accuse him of using the brethren, he worked night and day, as a preacher and a tent maker (. Rest and relaxation are good. Sermon 1 & 2: Wise vs foolish read more, Scripture: Allowed HTML tags: