ERA OF DILIGENCE 7 (Selah) God values diligence in His people, as evidenced by the numerous references to diligence in the book of Proverbs. Here are a few standards: Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. (12:24) All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (14:2)3 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (13:4) TWO PARADIGM OF DILIGENCE 1.THE WOMAN IN PROVERB 31 In the last chapter of Proverbs, King Lemuel describes a godly woman whose life is characterized by diligence as well as other qualities. This is a description of a type of woman and not necessarily a specific individual. Many of the descriptors refer directly to her investment of her time and energies. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. (13) She gets up while it is still dark…(15) She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. (17) She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. (27) 2.EPAPHRAS There are many other people in Scripture who exhibit diligence. One such person is Epaphras. Epaphras is mentioned only two times in Scripture. He probably started the church in Colossae. At the end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he writes this about Epaphras: Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. In these two brief sentences the diligence of Epaphras, including his diligence in prayer, was spoken of twice. He did not just pray, but he “always wrestled in prayer”. And what is there that requires more work, focus and energy than prayer?! Paul also testified that Epaphras was “working hard” for the believers at the young churches. Epaphras’ diligence was making an eternal difference in the lives of believers in that time!”Selah”
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 07:14:54 +0000
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