Being Diligence in the Promise Rest

8208

commitment, to God

Commitment to God arises from faith in his promises, is expressed in worship and adoration and leads to obedience to his commands.

Commitment to God commanded

Dt 27:10; Jos 24:14; Ro 12:1-2 See also Dt 6:13; 10:12-13; 13:4; Jos 22:5 Joshua reiterates Moses’ commands; Jdg 6:10; 1Sa 7:3; 12:24; 1Ch 28:9 David’s instructions to Solomon; 2Ch 19:9; Jer 38:20; 1Th 4:1; 2Ti 2:22

Obedience to God’s commands as a sign of commitment

Dt 7:9; Jos 24:24; Ro 6:17 See also Ex 19:8; Dt 11:22; 1Ki 8:61; Ne 10:29; Ps 40:6-8 The reference may be to the ear-piercing that was a sign of slaves’ voluntary commitment to their masters; Jer 7:23; 11:3; 38:20; 42:6; Hag 1:12; Zec 6:15

Jesus Christ equates obedience with love: Jn 14:15; 15:10

Ac 5:29; Ro 2:13

Love for God and worship of him are hallmarks of commitment

Dt 30:6; Jn 21:15 See also Dt 6:5; 10:12; 11:1,13,22; Jos 23:11; Ne 1:5; Isa 56:6-7; Jer 20:12; Da 9:4; Mt 6:24 pp Lk 16:13; Mt 22:37 pp Mk 12:30

Benefits of commitment to God

Dt 30:20; 2Ch 16:9; Pr 16:3; Rev 2:10 See also Ex 19:5-6; 20:6; Dt 28:1; 1Sa 12:14; 1Ki 2:2-4; Ps 97:10; Pr 2:7-8; Isa 1:19; Jer 26:13

Examples of commitment to God

Abraham: Ge 22:17-18; Heb 11:8

Nu 12:7 Moses; Jos 22:2 the tribes who settled in Transjordan; 1Ki 15:5 David; 1Ki 15:14 pp 2Ch 15:17 Asa

Hezekiah: 2Ki 20:3; 2Ch 31:20

2Ki 23:25 Josiah; Ne 13:14 Nehemiah; Jn 13:37 Simon Peter’s good intentions

God’s commitment of gifts and tasks to his people

God’s commitment of gifts 1Co 9:17

God’s commitment of the faith to believers Jude 3

See also

1345 covenant

5375 law

8031 trust, importance

8223 dedication

8225 devotion

8248 faithfulness

8292 love

8403 commands

DILIGENCE. Jesus an example of, Mark 1:35; Luke 2:49. Required by God in seeking him, 1 Chr. 22:19; Heb. 11:6; obeying him, Deut. 6:17; 11:13; hearkening to him, Isa. 55:2; striving after perfection, Phil. 3:13, 14; cultivating Christian graces, 2 Pet. 1:5; keeping the soul, Deut. 4:9; keeping the heart, Prov. 4:23; labors of love, Heb. 6:10–12; following every good work, 1 Tim. 3:10; guarding against defilement, Heb. 12:15; seeking to be found spotless, 2 Pet. 3:14; making our calling sure, 2 Pet. 1:10; self-examination, Psa. 77:6; lawful business, Prov. 27:23; Eccl. 9:10; teaching religion, 2 Tim. 4:2; Jude 3; instructing children, Deut. 6:7; 11:19; discharging official duties, Deut. 19:18; saints should abound in, 2 Cor. 8:7. Required in the service of God, John 9:4; Gal. 6:9. Is not in vain, 1 Cor. 15:58. Preserves from evil, Ex. 15:26. Leads to assured hope, Heb. 6:11. God rewards, Deut. 11:14; Heb. 11:6. In temporal matters leads to favor, Prov. 11:27; prosperity, Prov. 10:4; 13:4; honor, Prov. 12:24; 22:29.

Christian Diligence, with the Blessings that attend it, in Opposition to Sloth, Security, Backsliding, &c.

PROV. 13:4 .—The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

SHOULD we apply these words to labour or learning, to trade or religion, to the concerns of this life, or that which is to come, still we shall find this sentence of Solomon true and useful; it is a remark well worthy of our attention, and our best improvement. The son of diligence considered either as a man or a christian, is in a fair way to obtain the good things he seeks: His desire shall be satisfied, his soul shall be made fat, or filled with them, he shall increase in earthly possessions, he shall abound in knowledge and wisdom, or he shall grow rich in grace and the fruits of righteousness; but the slothful wretch shall be poor indeed. In vain doth he sit with folded hands, and wish for the blessings of nature or grace, of time or eternity: The idle hand shall be empty still, he shall desire in vain, and shall never possess.

Diligence is the appointed theme of my discourse, the diligence of a man or a christian. I shall endeavour first, to describe it in all the several parts of it, and then take a short survey of the blessings temporal and spiritual which attend it; and by the way, I shall give some occasional hints of the crime and the punishment of the contrary vices.

First, Let us enquire what are the several things which are implied in true diligence, whether it relate to the things of this life, or the life to come.

1. “Diligence includes the employment of every part of our time in proper business; and thus it stands in opposition both to sauntering and doing nothing at all, to trifling, or doing what is to no purpose, and to mis-timing the business which is to be done.” Every person in the world has some proper business to do daily, for God, for themselves, or for the good of their fellow-creatures. Mankind, even in the golden age of innocence, was not made for idleness. Adam was put into the garden of Eden, to dress and keep it; Gen. 2:8–15. and it is our duty wisely to enquire what is our proper work, and to employ surselves in it. But how many idle creatures are there in the world that act quite contrary to this rule?

1. How many do we find who saunter their lives away, and let their days, and months, and years run to waste in doing nothing at all, as though they were brought into the world to eat, drink and sleep, to gaze away life, and then to lie down in death? O wretched abuse of these precious blessings, life and time! “I must work, saith our Lord, while it is day, I must do the particular work, for which my Father sent me hither: the night is coming when no man can work:John 9:4. Let us all be imitators of our blessed Jesus. The business of the rich is to render their wealth useful to the good of the world, and to the interests of religion: The business of the poor is to labour to obtain their daily bread, and not be burdensome to their neighbours, nor useless inhabitants of the earth. The business of a scholar is to improve his mind in daily knowledge; and as for all the learned professions, their business is to lay out that knowledge for the ease and happiness of mankind in this world, or the next.

It is the proper business of a sinner to seek after converting grace, to return to God by repentance, to secure his salvation by faith in the Son of God, and all instances of new obedience. It is the proper business of a true christian to grow in grace, to adorn his profession with holiness, and abound in good works. It is the necessary and daily business of a mortal and an accountable creature to prepare for death and judgment, that he may die in peace, and give up his account with joy, if he should be summoned away on a sudden. Thus it appears every creature hath some proper business, both relating to this life, and the life to come: And therefore a sauntering and idle life is a high offence to the God of nature and grace, time and eternity.

2. “Trifling or wasting time in impertinences, is another vice contrary to this part of diligence.” Doing nothing to the purpose, is little better than doing nothing at all: As if a youth designed for the study of divinity, should lay aside his bible, and spend his whole time in measuring squares and circles in mathematical figures; or if a man of trade, or an artificer, who must provide daily bread for himself and his household, should waste his days in coffee-houses, still learning, and still discoursing of the rights of election of the kings of Poland, or in adjusting the bloody quarrels between the Turkish and the Persian armies. This is such an impertinence in the sight of God and men, as deserves the just reproaches of men, and punishment from the hand of providence. To wear out those seasons in prating and tattling, which are appointed for useful labour or business, is a wretched abuse of time, and merits the frequent censure of Solomon the wisest of men. The talk of the lips tendeth only to poverty, and a prating fool shall fall; Prov. 14:23. and 10:8. And too many there are who pretend to christianity, but they are only talking christians instead of being active in the duties of their appointed station, and their zeal for religion appears no where but in their tongues. Others also shall be pronounced idle, and triflers at the bar of God, who lay out all their spirits in little controversy, perhaps about mint, anise, and cummin, or in vindication of rites, and forms, and ceremonies which God never appointed, while they neglect the weighty matters of the law and the gospel, justice and goodness, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus, the correction of their tempers, and the amendmendment of their lives. Again,

3. “Mistiming the various actions of life is another abuse of time, and contrary to true diligence.” There is a time, saith the wise man, for every purpose under heaven, and every thing is beautiful in its season; Ec. 3:1, 11. If we should be dancing at midnight and sleeping at church or seeking our diversions in a hour of business; if we should work with our hands, when the season calls us to our closets, or spend that time in reading and prayer, which is appointed for the labours and cares of the family; these are all failures in our duty, and contrary to the true diligence which the word of God requires. That is but trifling or impertinence in one season, which is a necessary duty at another; nor will any works out of season prosper or succeed well, or be approved of God: And yet there are some persons so habitually guilty of this folly, that whensoever the certain season of any duty returns, they are ever beginning to do something else first, which perhaps they did not think of before, which would be much better left till afterward; Prov. 6:6–8. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, who seizes the days of summer and fair weather, to gather her food, and hides herself at winter, and lives upon her former provisions.

The second thing implied in true diligence, is “earliness in opposition to delay.” If we consider ourselves as men; the early man shews that his heart is in his work; but he that from hour to hour, or from day to day, delays the practice of any duty or service, gives sufficient notice that he doth not like it, and would never perform it at all, if he could safely avoid it. If we begin betimes the service of the day, we happily provide against hinderances, and we are not in danger of being thrown into a hurry by accidental avocations: We have hours before us to do our work well, to review and correct it: We keep our temper, and are composed amidst our cares and labours and finish our designs with honour. But if we suffer our work to lie neglected, till the latter end of the appointed time, we are ever in a hurry, in perpetual confusion, our temper is ruffled with every incident that comes in our way, and give us the least hinderance, and we never perform with such accuracy or such success. Have we not sometimes learned these inconveniences by sad experience, and shall we ever be guilty of delays again?

Or if we consider ourselves as christans, have we not found that by needless delays we have lost the season of morning prayer, and could never recover it again, but have past the morning without solemn addresses to the God of our lives? And hath not many a sinner felt the dreadful consequences of his delays of repentance, when, day after day, and week after week, his own conscience and the voice of God in his word have called upon him to repent and return to God, and invited him to accept of pardon and peace, to receive the grace of Christ, and everlasting life? What terrible agonies of soul, what reproaches of conscience on a dying bed, what horror of spirit in the review of his cursed delays? And with what tormenting despair his soul hath been hurried out of this life, and been plunged into an eternal state, without hope, or at least at a terrible uncertainty? Children can you hear this, and not enquire betimes, what must I do to be saved?Acts 16:30. Can you hear this in the days of youth, and delay any longer to secure your immortal concerns, and provide for the approaching hour of death and judgment? It is a dangerous thing for children in their younger years to learn the language of idleness, and to cry out on every occasion, “It is time enough yet.” They generally grow up to feel the bitter fruits of delay. It is an excellent rule in the things of earth or of heaven, “Never leave that to be done the next hour, which may properly be done now, nor dare to put off till to-morrow the business which you may as well begin to-day.” Who knows what a day may bring forth?Prov. 27:1. He that hath done his work to-day is secure of peace, but to-morrow may be all disappointment. Let us who pretend to be christians, or to have a regard to God and religion, let us upon the first notice of any duty, make haste to the practice of it. Upon the first conviction of sin let us apply ourselves immediately to God for pardoning and sanctifying grace: Let us return to our duty with early diligence like David, As soon as thou saidest, Seek ye my face, my heart replied; Thy face will I seek. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments; Ps. 27:8. and 119:60.

3. “Diligence implies activity and vigour, in opposition to sloth and laziness, languor and indifference.” It is not lazy wishes that will perform work or obtain a blessing. The sluggard desireth and hath nothing; Prov. 13:4. therefore the wise man advises; Ec. 9:10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might: Then it is likely to be finished in proper season; but the slothful wretch makes no riddance of his work, he moves heavily in his business, just as he doth upon his bed, like a door upon its hinges, never gets forwards; Prov. 26:24. A beautiful simile indeed, nor is the description of the sluggard less elegant; verse 25. “When he hath hid his hand in his bosom, it grieves him to bring it to his mouth.”

And what poor work doth a christian make who is cold, indifferent, slothful and lazy in the things which concern his soul and salvation? He makes a pretence to religion, but how poorly doth he proceed in it who hath no activity, no vigour no fervency therein? Where he was last year, there he is now, or else gone farther backward: His sins are still as unmortified, his temptations still as powerful and prevailing, his hopes still as low, and his holiness as much interrupted as in years past: He was not fit to appear before God then, and he is no fitter now: He was then in terror at the thoughts of dying, and he is still in the same terror. The slothful christian upon examination finds his faith hath scarce improved one grain, he is no nearer salvation than when at first he believed. Is this the obedience we owe to the command of Christ? Luke 13:24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, labour for the meat that endures to everlasting life; John 6:27. Regard the advice of the blessed apostle; Rom. 12:11. Be ye not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Permit me to ask the lazy christians of our present age, “Is this an imitation of ancient saints, who laboured night and day to get nearer to heaven, and as it were took the kingdom of heaven by a holy violence?” Let us bestir ourselves then and shake off this lethargy of soul, this dull humour, let us call up all our natural and christian powers into exercise, and be no longer slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises; Heb. 6:11.

4. “True diligence implies also watchfulness, in opposition to a drowsy heedless temper, a thoughtless security of soul.” We must be awake to seize all advantages for our work, as well as to guard against surprizes and dangers. How dreadfully is the sluggard exposed to loss and ruin? If the sailors sleep in their voyage, they run upon sands and rocks, and lose their ship and their lives. If a centinel sleep in his watch tower, the enemy gains considerable advantage, and seizes some post of importance, or enters the gates of the city. How often hath a whole army been surprized and routed, who lay secure in their camp, and kept no due watch? We christians are soldiers under the banner of Christ, our enemies are many within and without; our great adversary the devil is malicious and busy; if we indulge security and drowsiness, he seizes every unguarded hour to wound, and defile, and distress our souls. Therefore the apostle Peter demands our watchfulness; 1 Pet. 5:8. Be sober, be vigilant, or watchful, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. One unwatchful hour, one slumber in the day of temptation hath given Satan opportunity for unknown mischief, and administered matter to a christian for bitter repentance all his days, Shall we then ever hearken to the enticements of slothful nature? Shall we ever gratify the tempter at this rate to our own certain loss, and to the danger of our eternal ruin.”

5. “Diligence yet further implies a constancy in our work, in opposition to looking back, and perpetual avocation by diversions and pleasures.” The foolish Israelites were often looking back to the leeks and onions and flesh pots of Egypt, and were in danger of losing the promised land. Where love of pleasure and diversion often interrupts the business we are engaged in, we shall make but poor broken work, and have but little hope to succeed in it; Prov. 21:17. “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.”

And as they can never grow rich in temporal things who are carried away from their business by every diversion, so neither can a christian grow rich in grace, who frequently interrupts his duty to indulge mirth and carnal delights. We must be stedfast and constant in our christian race, and not turn aside from the path of duty to gather this and the other flower of sensual pleasure, if we would finish our course with joy, and so run as to obtain the prize.

6. Another thing implied in true diligence, “is firmness and resolution in our labour, in opposition to all the difficulties which attend our work.” We suppose every valuable and excellent design hath some difficulties more or less always attending it; some hardship which must be endured, some obstacles and impediments which must be broke through; but if we are frighted at every shadow or difficulty we shall never fulfil our service nor perfect our design. This Solomon hath often observed: The sluggard cries, it is cold, and will not go early to plough, and therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. He complains there is a lion in the way, there is a lion in the street, where the path of duty lies; therefore he sits down in sloth, and keeps himself safe and idle at home. The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, he imagines every step he takes in the path of diligence and industry hath such troubles attending it, such thorns and briars as he calls them, that he cannot break through and therefore he refuses to labour. See Prov 20:4. and 26:13. and 25:19.

And is not this matter the same in spiritual things? How many are there who cry out of the ways of religion as painful and hard? They are frighted at the duties of repentance, self-denial and mortification of sin, at cutting off right-hands, and plucking out right-eyes; they are offended at persecution, which sometimes rises against strict godliness; the frowns of the world terrify their hearts, they dare not be singular in the profession of faith, or the practice of virtue: They are ashamed of the worship, and the name of God in the midst of profane and sinful men; they go back, as some disciples did in the days of Christ, and walk no longer with him. But let us remember the divine threatenings, The man who hath put his hand to the plough, and looks back; Luke 9:62. my soul, saith the Lord, shall have no pleasure in him; Heb. 10:38.

7. The last character I shall ascribe to the diligent man is, “perseverance in opposition to fainting and weariness.” The man of diligence must hold out to the end, if he expect to have his labour crowned. An imperfect work among men is very little worth: It is the end that crowns all.

And it is just the same in religion, unless we persevere in the duties of holiness, we have no reason to expect the divine reward; but the glorious recompence is sure to us, if we are not weary in well doing; we shall reap in due time if we faint not; Gal. 6:9. St. Paul just before his martyrdom rejoices in this, he had fought the good fight, in opposition to all the enemies of the gospel, and he had finished his course of faith and holiness: Henceforth saith he, is laid up for me a crown of righteousness; 2 Tim. 4:7. Let us animate ourselves by his blessed example, and by the promise of our Lord Jesus to the church of Ephesus; Rev. 2:10. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Let these thoughts awaken our drowsy spirits, and prolong our patience in the work of the Lord, that we may not at last be found among them who draw back to perdition, but among those who believe, and persevere to the saving of the soul; Heb. 10:39.

Thus far I have been engaged in setting before you the several things implied in diligence or industry, both in matters of this life, and that which is to come; but I have in some measure entered upon my second general head, by often touching upon the happy fruits of diligence, as well as the dismal consequences of all the contrary vices. My remaining work therefore will be very short, and that is to mention in a more express and distinct manner, the blessings which attend diligence in a course of virtue and goodness; and they are such as these:

1. Diligence hath a natural tendency to success, and to obtain the good things we seek. “In all labour saith Solomon, there is profit;” Prov. 14:23. “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread;” Prov. 12:11. and “the hand of the diligent maketh rich;” Prov. 10:4. But as for “the field of the slothful, it is overgrown with thorns; nettles and briars cover it;” Prov. 24:30. “And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags;” Prov. 23:21.

It is the same in spiritual things, as in the things of nature. Diligence in seeking the knowledge of God shall be crowned with an increase of sacred knowledge; Hos. 6:3. “Then shall we know the Lord, if we follow on to know him.” “Give attendance to reading, saith Paul to Timothy, that thy profiting may appear to all;” 1 Tim. 4:14. Diligence and labour with our own hearts in weaning them from the world, and a fervent constancy in the pursuits of godliness, is the proper and rational way to obtain the blessings of grace and glory. But I add,

2. Diligence hath the rich and special promises of a faithful God to encourage its hope. What David said to his son Solomon with regard to building the temple, the gospel saith the same to every christian; 1 Chron. 22:16. “Arise and be doing, and the Lord shall be with thee:” And Solomon gave the same advice to his son, and the same promise; Prov. 2:3, 4. “If thou seekest after wisdom as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou obtain saving knowledge, and learn the fear of the Lord. Give all diligence, saith Peter in the name of Christ;” 2 Pet. 1:5–10. “Give all diligence, and add one christian grace to another, add to your faith virtue, to your virtue, temperance, patience, godliness and charity. Give diligence again to make your calling and your election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall, but an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

3. Diligence and industry are a happy guard against snares and temptations of every kind. When the devil finds you idle, he hath a proper moment to assault you with some powerful temptation: He will employ you in his work, when he finds your hands and hearts entirely at leisure and unemployed; he that is not awake to his duty, is not awake to his danger, and is easily surprized into mischief: but the wakeful diligent christian is like Nehemiah’s builders on the walls of Jerusalem, with a weapon in one hand while they laboured with the other; Neh. 4:17. and thus their work went on with good success and safety.

4. Diligence is always making a progress towards its designed end, but the slothful man is in great danger of going backward. The gardener who neglects his daily work, will find the ground which he hath cultivated over-run with weeds again in a little time. If a waterman who rows against the stream be slothful and drowsy, his vessel will make no progress, but be carried backward continually: So if a labourer hearkens to the enticements of drowsy nature, and learns this slothful language, A little more sleep, a little more slumber, poverty will come upon him as an armed man; Prov. 24:33, 34. and rob him of all his gains. Negligent and unwatchful and lazy christians, will for the most part lose what they have gained in the things of religion too: The apostle John in his second epistle, verse 8. guards against it. Take heed that ye lose not the things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. How many have lost their first zeal, their first love, and their early joys in religion, by a sinful security of soul, and for want of a due concern to grow in grace. It is growth in religion that evidences the truth of it, and secures the comforts of it.

5. The diligent christian is a most useful person in the world, he does the most good himself, and becomes an excellent example to all that are round about him. He lays the sluggard under continual conviction, and puts him to daily shame, if he have any of his senses awake to see, or feel, or take notice. Such a christian animates and encourages all that are near him to the same diligence, as fire kindles fire, and spreads the blaze far and near. Active and lively christians make one another’s hearts warm in religion, and help to diffuse the sacred fire round about. The zealous servants of the blessed God, give credit and honour to their profession; but what a shameful thing is it to see some christians idle and careless in the duties of their daily calling, and slothful and lazy in their practice of religion too? The truth is, they do not make religion their practice, but a mere matter of talk and sound; and while they refuse to labour in the station where God has placed them, they disgrace their profession, and expose themselves to the just and severe sentence of the apostle; 2 Thess. 3:10. He that will not work, let him not eat; that is let him starve, for christianity is no just pretence for idleness.

6. The diligent christian finishes his work with peace, hope, and joy. He shall review his conduct and his labours with an inward satisfaction, and a sacred pleasure of soul: his conscience is a joyful witness; he hath not only a safe but an abundant entrance generally administered to him into the heavenly kingdom, and he obtains a fairer crown; for the Lord the righteous Judge will reward every one according to his works; Rom. 2:6–11. He who had one talent, and improved it by gaining ten more, had rule over ten cities: He that gained five talents, had five cities under his government; Luke 19:17–19. But let us dread the curse of the wicked and slothful servant; Observe the slothful servant is pronounced wicked by the mouth of Christ himself; Mat. 25:26. He is to be “cast into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The slothful wretch at the end of his days, sees his great work undone, his heart not yet turned to God and godliness, and is overwhelmed with horror when in view of death and judgment. It is the cry of his soul, “O that I might die the death of the righteous;” Num. 23:10. but there is no crown of righteousness for him, no prize of glory; he hath neither run nor fought, nor laboured so as to obtain it. He wishes for heaven in vain; his desires are his torment, for they shall never be fulfilled, desire and despair are misery enough. Happy soul who hath been faithful, diligent and watchful in every station of life, and has made suitable advances in faith and love, and holiness. He waits till his Lord shall come, and he rejoices in hope, for he shall then receive the glorious sentence from the lips of his Judge, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord;” Mat. 25:21–23. and be thou possessed of blessedness in the upper world, in proportion to the talents I trusted thee with on earth, and to thy diligent and faithful improvement of every talent.” Amen