SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/16/2013
9:48 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Diligent
PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Proverbs
Message of the
verses: We have been looking at the
commentary from Warren Wiersbe’s book on Proverbs, and the title of the seventh
chapter in his book is called “Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief.” We are about to begin looking at the third
main point from this chapter in Today’s Spiritual Diary. Proverbs is a difficult, if not impossible
book to study in a verse by verse study other than perhaps the first nine
chapters. It seems that the best way to
study it is by looking at the different topics that are found scattered
throughout the book. I have to say that
I am not too comfortable in this type of study, but since it is the best way to
look at it I will pray that the Lord will open my eyes to understand the
different topics that are found in this book of Proverbs.
“The Diligent”
In order to help us understand the direction we are going
here I wish to quote Dr. Wiersbe: “Diligent
hands are directed by a diligent heart, and this means the discipline of the inner person.” “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it
spring the issues of life (Pr. 4:23, NKJV).”
“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life
(Pr. 4:23, NASB).” This section makes me
think of Romans 12:2 which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The reason that it makes me think of this verse is because of the statement
in it which say “by the renewing of your mind.”
If we are to keep our hearts clean and pure we have to do it by the
study of the Word of God so that our minds and our hearts are filled with it in
order to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.
Jesus teaches that the faithful work of one of His
children will be rewarded with more work!
“"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you
were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter
into the joy of your lord’ (Matthew 25:21).”
16 "The first appeared,
saying, ’Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 "And he said to him, ’Well done, good
slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in
authority over ten cities.’ 18 "The
second came, saying, ’Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 "And he said to him also, ’And you are
to be over five cities’ (Luke 19:16-19).”
“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will
not stand before obscure men (Pr. 22:29).”
The story of Joseph shows that one of the blessings that
are seen in diligent labor is the joy of developing the kind of ability and character
that others can trust. Like Joseph who
was faithful in the first things that God had given him to do he was elevated
in the next things that God had chosen for him to do. I realize that going from being a favored son
of his father to being the second in control of the most powerful nation of the
world at that time took almost sixteen years, and also took a lot of suffering
on Joseph’s part, but we must remember that first comes the suffering and then
the glory. Joseph’s life was a life that
shows diligence and also shows that he knew the promises of God and believed
them. We see this type of diligence also
in the life of David who began as a faithful keeper of his father’s sheep to
become the most noted king of Israel, but not without suffering first. Joshua was a successful helper of Moses and
then became the successor of Moses. We
see in all of these lives that wisdom had a big part in making them the men God
wanted them to be. “7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire
wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you; She
will honor you if you embrace her (Pr. 4:7-8).”
“The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor (Pr. 3:35).”
We can see that one of the qualities of the diligent
person is that they plan their work and also work their plan. The Bible teaches us about hard work, and
also teaches us about the balance of hard work, not working so long that we neglect
our families and think more about our work than our relationship with the Lord
and with family, but having a balanced life in this area. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to
plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty (Pr. 21:5).” “Commit your works to the LORD And your plans
will be established (Pr. 16:3).” Thomas
Edison said: “I never did anything worth
doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by
work.” We may think that some scientific
breakthrough came through an accident, but the person with the breakthrough was
working hard when the breakthrough came.
Ben Franklin wrote the following in his Poor Richards Almanac, “Diligence is the mother of good luck, and
God gives all things to industry.”
On thing that God will bless is the labors of people who
are honest, and diligent people are honest.
“Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, But the one who gathers by labor
increases it (Pr. 13:11).” God expects
us to be honest in our words as we speak to others, “Lying lips are an
abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight (Pr.
12:22).”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I have mentioned
in this study of Proverbs that the wise person is the person who has accepted
the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and their Lord, and that is the wisest
thing a person can do. That is the first
and best thing that a wise person does, and then he must begin to follow the
things that are written in the Word of God.
A believer may not have all the qualities that are seen in the book of
Proverbs, but it should be the goal of all believers to learn about these
things like we are studying in today’s SD, and to put them into practice. It is difficult, but worth it just as we have
seen in the life of Joseph, David, and Joshua.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To be more diligent in my life.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 32:1-2
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose
sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man
in whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Turning Points Wisdom for
Today: “Do you love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the
stuff life is made of. (Benjamin Franklin) “So teach us to number our days, that we may
gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
2/16/2013 10:39 AM
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