What's The Deal With Diligence?

The next thing that leads to success is focus.  Focus like a laser beam.  Nose to the grind stone and all of that. 

Really?  That sounds like work.  Are you surprised?  It is work.  Or more importantly, focused work. 

 The other day I wrote about work and we started in Genesis.  Guess what.  We're going to start there again.  We always look to God for the example and He has provided it right from the beginning.  Take a look. 

Genesis 2:1-2(NKJV)

1Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 

2And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 

Now remember this is God we are talking about here.  He can do anything he wants.  Time is on His side as they say.  He could just work a little here, take a break, work a little there.  You know what I mean?  Nobody put a deadline on creating the world, but how did God do it? 

He worked for 6 days and then He rested.  He applied six focused  days of work to get the job done, and THEN He rested.  In other words He was focused on His work. 

In doing a search of the Bible for this post I couldn't  find a single example of God or Jesus yelling "Come one people, let's focus!".  I did however find many times where God does tell us to be diligent which is another way of saying the same thing. 

Proverbs 8:17(NKJV)

17    I love those who love me,     And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Notice that God promises that those who seek Him diligently will find Him.

Does that mean that those that seek Him only half heartedly might not find Him?  Sounds that way to me.

Proverbs 10:4(NKJV)

4    He who has a slack hand becomes poor,      But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 12:24(NKJV)

24    The hand of the diligent will rule,      But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

Proverbs 13:4(NKJV)

4    The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;      But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

Proverbs 21:5(NKJV)

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

Proverbs 27:23(NKJV)

23    Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,      And attend to your herds;

Notice the theme here?  Why did God feel the need to say it so many times, so many ways?  Could it be an indication of the importance of the message? 

There is another meaning to focus as well.  That is center.  When you are the focus of something you are the center. 

John 19:18(NKJV)

18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 

Isn't that interesting.  Jesus is the center.  And guess what?  If you focus on Jesus as the center of your life He will help guide you to the success in your life that He already has planned for you.  So what are you waiting for?  Stay focused on Jesus and enjoy the journey!