Here is an old-fashioned word that has once again become fashionable. The similar word ‘assiduity’ remains unfashionable! Diligence is probably not a word for everyday conversation when referring to ‘steady, earnest, devoted and energetic application’ – you might prefer something like ‘stickability’. The more common use of the word is in a legal context when it comes as ‘due diligence’ and often refers to procedures taken by an organization to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace. It can have a wider application to mean ‘reasonable steps taken by a person to avoid committing a tort (a wrong or offence). That said, you can see at least ten examples of ‘due diligence’ in the photo – can you spot them? The simplest meaning is ‘care taken’ which is something all of us do every day from boiling a kettle, to crossing a road. It is also a principle important for spiritual life and fulfilment.
- ‘Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains’ – William Penn
- ‘I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time’ – Charles Dickens
- ‘Running taught me valuable lessons. In cross-country competition, training counted more than intrinsic ability, and I could compensate for a lack of natural aptitude with diligence and discipline. I applied this in everything I did’- Nelson Mandela
- ‘The thing about tennis is if you stay off for two weeks, or just for three days, you can lose your rhythm quickly. So it’s just a question of constant diligence and vigilance’ – Venus Williams
In 1982, a very famous person was turned down by Oxford University but went on to become one of the wealthiest women in the world. This same person made her fortune through writing but initially was turned down by 12 leading publishers. JK Rowling had a hard childhood, bullied at school, a strained relationship with her father, lost her mother to MS and went through a painful divorce. Through diligence she kept going and her publications have sold over 600 million copies, been translated into 84 languages leading to films and video games. Thomas Edison had great ideas for electric power generation, mass communication, sound and motion recording but he failed many times before succeeding with his invention of the lightbulb. Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. Tenacity and diligence made the difference in both cases just as it does for everything worthwhile – musical composition, athletic excellence, relationships and faith in God.
All journeys worth making require clarity of purpose, commitment and diligence. As you consider your life, can you think of areas where you are diligent and others where you give up? What do you think makes the difference? If you have faith in God, are you pressing on even through tough times or have you been unable to persevere? God knows we struggle and are far from perfect but he never abandons us although we may turn our backs on Him. Jacob struggled with God but was never abandoned. Job argued with God over the circumstances in his life – he was not ignored but was listened to and defended from accusation. So when you feel like giving up, for whatever reason, be encouraged that your struggles are known, understood and you have One Who will speak up for you. Jesus Christ was diligent in coming to seek you out – when he saw the personal cost of your rescue, he was willing to ‘drink the cup of suffering on your behalf and persevered to the very end, for your sake.
- ‘We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized’ – Hebrews 6:11
- ‘So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised’ – Hebrews 10:35-36
- ‘Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne. Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up’ – Hebrews 12:2-3
- ‘Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ – Hebrews 7:25
Did you notice that all these words to boost you came from Hebrews, a deep and passionate letter encouraging everyone following Christ Jesus not to give up, ever, for he has never given up on you. Paul’s letter to Christians in Philippi urges them to keep pressing on despite all their difficulties. Writing Revelation, the final book of the Bible, the apostle John envisions a time when people will forget their first love and become lukewarm towards God (see chapters 2 and 3), but he gives ‘spiritual health and safety warnings’ against doing so – you could call this ‘spiritual due diligence’ which we ignore at our own peril. Note the warning signs in the photo and heed the encouragement to keep following Jesus if you are to miss very real ‘spiritual potholes’.
‘Before the throne of God above’ is a beautiful old hymn written in 1863 by Charitie Lees Bancroft and it will help you reflect on these things. Many different well-known artists have performed it but this relatively obscure video was made by Bellevue Baptist Church and features a choir with a talented soloist:
For more reading and thinking:
Comments