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Proverbs 12:24

Diligence is the general rule for success, and it does not require ability or education! Of course, talent and training can leverage your diligence farther and higher, but they cannot replace it. There is also a way to be oppressed in life, being used by others, and it can occur in spite of ability or education - it is slothfulness. It is a choice. Help yourself up the business ladder by hard work! Or, be lazy, and carry the ladder for others to climb!

Diligence is intense and persistent effort to accomplish something - hard and continuing labor. The diligent man will bear rule, or be promoted over others, who do not work as hard. "Hand" is synecdoche for the whole man, just as captains call to sailors, "All hands on deck." The use of "hand" has value, because it is man's chief tool of labor (10:4). Even today, employers want men who roll up their sleeves and get jobs done! If a young man builds a reputation for great diligence, he will rise to the top as surely as cream!

The slothful is a lazy man. He dislikes exertion, avoids hard work, paces himself in tasks, is slow and sluggish, resents pressure, is intimidated by challenges, cannot sustain strong efforts, is easily distracted, and has little drive. He has the same name as a very slow and sleepy mammal of Central and South America - the sloth! Tribute is the tax that kings required of nations they defeated (Jos 17:13; I Kgs 9:21). It was a payment of submission to the winner of a war. Lazy men will soon be working for those who outwork them.

Solomon wrote Proverbs for young men, especially his son, though all of human society can profit as well (1:4,8). Men are born with a default mechanism to laziness, because they are sinners by Adam and do not want to fulfill their end of the deal made in Eden (Gen 2:15; 3:17-19). They deceive themselves that taking it easy results in an easier life - because they do not see the pain, poverty, suffering, and trouble that laziness causes. In seeking to help young men become successful, Solomon stressed the value of diligence.

Consider athletes (I Cor 9:24-27). Athletes use this wisdom every day, by saying, "If I put in one more lap, or one more set of exercises, than anyone else, I will eventually win." They know hard work brings results, so they work harder than their competitors; and they are soon defeating them in contests! They cannot change their God-given abilities, but they can outwork the competition! Overachievers can defeat the talented!

You may not be gifted, but it does not take genius to be the hardest worker in your firm or field! It may be too late to get better training, but you can still outwork the men relying on their degrees for the next promotion. You can pass these prima donnas by being more faithful than they are generally willing to be. Are you gifted? Are you well trained? Then you can leverage either or both of these to great success by diligence! Solomon analyzed more HR reports than you could haul in a truck. He said that diligence works. Go for it!

What is diligence? The basics, done well every day! Be early to work. Never miss a day. Be first to volunteer for extra duties. Ask for more to do when things are slow. Eschew breaks. Apply focused and intense output for the whole day. Do not waste or steal time for personal matters. Stay until the job is done. Be more eager to punch in than punch out. Outwork anyone else. Enjoy self-imposed stress. Work extra hard on difficult jobs. Cheerfully agree to every assignment. Set records for quantity and quality. Avoid meetings when possible. Work as if the Lord were watching, because He is!

What is slothfulness? Arrive on time or late. Use all your personal or sick days. Get a cup of coffee to get going, after punching in! Call or email on company time. Pace yourself to help a project fill up the day. Chat with others about social matters. Take full breaks. Leave on time or early. Never volunteer for extra duties. Leave projects unfinished. Think about punching out. Balance your checkbook at work. Deliberate at your desk more than you need to. Daydream. Fuss about details that sacrifice quantity of work. Think about your vacation. Work like those around you. Walk slowly. Relax. Doze.

Diligence is key to a successful life - no matter what aspect of life you are considering. From your marriage to your house, and from your children to your soul, diligence is a main ingredient for success (4:23; 5:19; 14:1; 29:15,17). Look at Solomon's many references to it (6:6-11; 10:4,26; 12:11,24,27; 13:4; 14:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15,24; 20:4,13; 21:5,25; 22:13,29; 23:21; 24:30-34; 26:13-16; 27:23-27; 28:19; 31:10-31; Eccl 9:10)! Young man, do you hear the Preacher? Labor now for rule and rest in the future!

Pharaoh sought men of activity for his cattle (Gen 47:6); Solomon applied this proverb by promoting Jeroboam for his industry (I Kgs 11:28); Paul labored more abundantly than any other apostle (I Cor 15:10; II Cor 11:23); Jesus told the parable of the talents to encourage diligence in one's duties (Matt 25:14-30). And God judged Sodom most severely in part for idle women (Ezek 16:49). Your future is now: diligence works!

The rule of diligence in employment is part of the Christian religion, being taught directly and indirectly in the New Testament (Rom 12:11; Eph 4:28; 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25; I Thess 4:11-12; II Thess 3:6-14; I Tim 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10). But faithful diligence in spiritual things will bring the praise and promotion of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt 24:45-51; 25:20-23). And diligent ministers are worthy of double honour (I Tim 5:17-18).

The vain professor of religion, the carnal Christian that pursues pleasure, shall soon be discovered and cast out (Matt 25:24-30). If any man has ears to hear, let him hear the commendation of the unjust steward for wisely planning for the future (Luke 16:1-12). It is only by careful diligence that you can lay hold of the kingdom of God (II Pet 1:5-11).

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