Dear reader and brother in Christ: You have probably heard the popular sayings "early risers help God" and "for a knife that cuts, there is no hard flesh". But have you ever considered that both describe a trait of character that the Bible considers vital for any successful enterprise?
That character trait is diligence, which in the Bible is often contrasted with laziness and postponing what we have to do. The Hebrew language uses two very interesting words to describe diligence: "dawn" and "knife". Both refer to an individual who remains awake and alert (who gets up early), and is dedicated to improving and honing their skills (like a sharp knife).
"He who looks at the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap," the preacher tells us (Ec 11: 4). We can not spend our time daydreaming, or wait until all the conditions seem totally optimal before we begin. "In the morning, sow your seed, and at night do not let your hand rest, because you do not know what is best, if this or that, or if the one and the other is just as good" (Ec 11: 6 ).
The lazy one is always dreaming and wants to achieve success, but he is never willing to pay the price of perseverance. That's why it ends in frustration and emptiness. On the other hand, a diligent man is a satisfied man.
Before the apostle Peter proceeded to connect the fundamental building blocks of character, such as faith, virtue, knowledge and self-control, he exhorted his readers to put "all diligence" to acquire them (2 Peter 1: 5). Such qualities are not found in a superficial Christian. The only way they are rooted in our character is through their constant search and application.
The main motivation for the cultivation and exercise of diligence is not the material gain, but the urgency of our Christian witness. "It is necessary that I should do the works of him who sent me, while the day lasts," Jesus said; "Night is coming, when no one can work" (Jn 9, 4).
Our pilgrimage on earth is short. A diligent and alert believer in every opportunity to share Christ and make him known will have the greatest influence in the kingdom of God. There is little time left, but we can redeem him for divine purposes if we remain diligent in our work, our study, our testimony and our prayer life.
