Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We have established that God always rewards faith. Today we shall be considering another effort that God reward - DILIGENCE.
What is diligence?
Diligence means steady, earnest, and energetic effort: devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking :
Diligence flow from faith. When you have faith you will be diligent to commit to the actions for the achievements of your expectations. Diligence is hardworking. This is what is lacking in many Christians today. We want to be prosperous but we are not ready for hard work.
God takes account of diligence and he always demands it. According to our anchor scripture- "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" God himself is diligent. He diligently sought for man after the fall of man in Genesis. To the extent, He gave himself to redeem man.
Let us look at examples:
1. God rewarded the diligence of Isaac
Genesis 26:1-22 God made a promise to Isaac based on the covenant with Abraham. He instructed Isaac to stay in the land that he will be with him. Isaac did not just stay and be waiting for the Supernatural to rain money. He began to sow. The scripture said he sowed in the time of famine and was blessed and became very great.
Genesis 26:12-13 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
The blessing that God promised him came as he was diligent in doing something- sowing and digging wells. God's blessing will come as you are diligent with your business.
2. God rewarded the diligence of Elisha
II Kings 19:19 Elisha received the mantle from Elijah, the mantle he received at this point was the mantle of appointment as God has spoken to Elijah to do. However, in II Kings 2:1-14, Elijah diligently followed Elijah until he received the mantle of power which made him different from other sons of the prophet in the land. Elisha did not sit down that I have received the appointment God will empower me. He diligently pursues to receive it. God saw his diligence and rewarded him with a double portion of the anointing of Elisha.
3. God rewarded the diligence of Paul
Paul was an exemplary man. He encountered Jesus many years after His death. He was the last of all the apostles but with diligence, he became the most distinguished of all the apostles. He wrote a major part of the books in the bible.
I Corinthians 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Paul said he laboured more than they all. We can see the evidence of his labour and the reward of God for his labour.
Where is your diligence?
You must be diligent in seeking God if you are expecting a turnaround in your life. How diligent are you seeking Him in study, evangelism, prayer, service, etc?
How diligent are you with your giftings, skills, business, talent, job etc. God is waiting to see your diligence to reward you?
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