If you’re to choose between either to live a life of success or a life of failure, without a second thought of doubt, you’d choose success.
It’s a beautiful thing to lead a successful life. Infact, it is God’s will for us to live a life full of success. Jos 1:8 – “…for then, you’ll make your way prosperous, and you’ll have good success.”
There are many keys to attaining success in life, and one of the most important is DILIGENCE.
Now, let’s look at what Diligence is:
Diligence is the ability to work hard, carefully with focus and persistence, to complete a task. The task can be a business, project, daily job requirements, etc.
Diligence requires steadiness and consistency. Most importantly, God expects us to work diligently. Being busy all day or working long hours doesn’t exactly qualify as diligence. Diligence is an important aspect of personal and professional life.
The bible clearly stated in Prov 22:29 (KJV):
“Do you see a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
• How to be a diligent person:
To be diligent at anything, you have to first become a person of diligence, and it can be learned.
1. Have a goal to accomplish in a certain period:
There are no short cuts! Having a goal gives you a direction for life. When there is no goal, there is nothing to commit to. The goal doesn’t have to be complex. No matter how simple, you can set daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly goals.
Set goals for your career, finance, family life, etc. Following these goals will help you focus on what is important.
When you have a goal, commit to it wholeheartedly.
Eccl. 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol.”
2. Value time as gold:
Eccl. 3:1 “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.”
Time is your biggest asset, and you can’t afford to squander it. Time management is the hallmark of diligent people. They know how important it is to use their time productively so that they will be able to avoid the stress that comes with cramming and second-rate work outputs.
Those who value time stay focused. Focus is the key to accomplishing much in a given time. You don’t procrastinate. Procrastination isn’t for those who value time. You must also learn to say “no” to invitations or errands unless they are highly urgent and important.
3. Discipline:
Rest is good, but not at the expense of your goal. One effective way to be diligently productive is by dutifully accomplishing your daily to-do-list. This may seem a bit tough, but disciplining yourself not to go to bed until everything is done may help you be more responsible in managing your time during the day.
Of course, there are exemptions to the rule, like when there are unexpected plan changes or there is an emergency.
Prov 24: 33-34 – “(33) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (34) and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
We can learn from our heavenly father, God. He didn’t rest until He was done with work (Gen 2:2).
4. Surround yourself with task-oriented people:
The people you associate and work with greatly influence your work and life. To develop diligence, consciously surround yourself with people who are themselves passionate about work and stretch themselves to give their best; Ambitious people, the doers, problem solvers. Those who can inspire you.
• Let’s look at the Rewards of Diligence:
1. Diligence gives you access:
Remember the earlier bible text; Pro. 22:29 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
2. Diligence opens the gate to influence, power, wealth, success, authority and opportunities. That was what worked for Joseph, that being diligent even in jail, he got recommended to the king.
3. Diligence leads to abundance:
Diligence will bring promotion and prosperity. It is diligence that brings many people from poverty to prosperity.
4. Success answers to diligence:
When you have a clear picture of what God wants to have you do, you follow it with all your heart and you can be sure that success is ahead. It takes diligence to succeed in life.
Prayers
Oh Lord, give us the grace to be diligent in all things in the name of Jesus.
I rebuke the spirit of slothfulness in my life in Jesus’ name.
Oh Lord, bless my hard work; bless my efforts with brilliant success. I will not labor in vain in the name of Jesus.
