Diligence is a powerful key!

Recently, through quite an unexpected avenue, I found my thoughts being led to ponder more deeply on a means by which, in seeking God, promises rich rewards.  That unexpected avenue was through a verse in my portion of text in Proverbs during my morning reading.  The verse was Proverbs 21:5 which says:

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

Having all sorts of plans generally in my head at various stages of development – some in the forefront, some in the background – I have some hope of seeing at least one or two work out reasonably well, if the Lord wills.  It was not, however, the thought of plans working out well which drew me but rather the meaning of the word ‘diligent’ which seemed to jump out at me as having promise of some spiritual significance, which at first was but a faint notion.  Drawn in by this word, I began by looking up the Hebrew word translated as ‘diligent’ in Strong’s Concordance – only to find that the word meant, well, ‘diligent’.  This being the case, I thought looking it up in the ordinary secular dictionary would give me deeper clarity.  It did. I found that ‘diligent’ in the ordinary sense means:

1. Marked by persevering, painstaking effort.
2. Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful; painstaking; not careless or negligent.
3. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous, industrious.

As I turned the word  ‘diligent’ around in my thoughts in the light of the above definitions, my thoughts turned then to Scripture at Hebrews 11:6, ‘ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.’  I was struck! Was this the true purpose  and “work” for which the word ‘diligent’ was sent to capture my thoughts, for it left behind this precious lesson:

Diligence is a powerful key!

Consider Hebrews 11:6 again carefully:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(underlined for emphasis)

That’s the way I need to seek God – the diligent way!

Amen.