Diligence, By Christopher Burdick

Christopher Burdick with his little brother Malachi Patterson.

What is Diligence?

What did Jesus’ daily life look like? What’s the difference between diligence and idleness? What
is idleness? What is diligence? How can I be diligent? What are some ways to repent?
Google’s definition of diligent: having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or
duties.
Greek definition diligent:spoudazō– to hasten, make haste-to exert one’s self, endeavor, give
diligence

• What are a disciple’s work and duties? (Matthew 28:18-20) to make disciples. What is a
  ministry leader’s work? (Acts 6:3-5) prayer and bible study. So I need to make sure I’m diligent in these things.
• Therefore I need to exert myself, make haste, and show care in my work. Making
  sure I’m urgent with bible study and not be “lackadaisical” with others’ salvation.

Google definition idleness: a state of inaction; inactivity.
Greek definition idleness: atakteō-to be disorderly – of soldiers marching out of order or quitting
ranks- to be neglectful of duty, to be lawless- to lead a disorderly life.

• (2 Timothy 2:2-4) We are soldiers in Christ. Do I really believe I’m at war? Do I take
  every day, every sin, every time I share with someone as serious as it should be? Lack
  of seriousness causes a lack of action.
• (Proverbs 18:9) To be neglectful in duties is to be the same as destroying. How many people’s
  salvation have I destroyed by being lazy and idle? How many missed opportunities?

How did Jesus Start his Day?

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off
to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
Why did Jesus get up early? What’s the point? What’s special about the morning?
Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the
night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to
hear him at the temple. Luke 21:37-38
Jesus had to wake up very early in the morning to pray or prayed all night because he started preaching and teaching early in the morning. He didn’t wait around. He got up and was diligent. I need to do the same.

What am I doing?

As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. Proverb 26:14
I woke up at 7:40 today and left my bed at 8 am. I went to sleep last night at around 12
and instead of praying, I was watching YouTube. Do the end of my day and the start of my day
look like Jesus? Obviously not. Then what can I do to be a disciple and follow Jesus?
Practicals:

• No phone after 10 pm if I stay up late it’s either praying or reading the Bible
• Wake up at 6 am after quiet time do reach out to disciples in my immediate circle, to start
  off productive, and to encourage others daily.

What is the Biblical Benefit of Being Diligent?

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4

• Diligence brings wealth (spiritually and physically)
  • Spiritual wealth
  • Matthew 6:19-21 wealth in heaven
  • Ephesians 3:8 richness in the knowledge of Christ

A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4

• Sluggard means to be slow to action
  • So someone who isn’t diligent won’t be satisfied with their work.
• The diligent desires get fulfilled
  • What are the desires of my heart?
    • I want to become an Evangelists that can raise up Evangelists
    • I want to help the Teen ministry to become the model ministry in
      the southwest
    • I want to double the campus and teen ministry
    • Get a 4.00 GPA
    • These will be fulfilled if I am diligent just like Jesus’ desire to seek
      and save the lost was fulfilled!

This “Holiday Quiet Times” series was written for the month of December 2020. Brothers and sisters from the Phoenix and Tucson churches contributed these various daily devotionals. You can download the PDF packet here: “2020 Holiday Quiet Times.“