Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
When I was in fifth grade, I had a math teacher named Mrs. Phillips.
She was strict, and she did not seem to care for me that much.
Probably because I talked a little too much in her class.
Math was my least favorite subject, so I used every distraction possible to get through the boring hour of that class.
However, Mrs. Phillips wrote something on my math test one day that I have never forgotten.
Her words are seared into my heart and my mind.
“You need to be more diligent with your work!”
That sentence is exactly what she wrote with a red marker across the top of my test.
At that time, as a naive and unwise 5th grader, I had no idea what she meant by those words.
Years, decades later, I know exactly what she meant.
Good ol’ Merriam Webster dictionary defines diligent as this:
-characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort
-suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.
-The word, which entered English in the 14th century by way of Anglo-French, comes from the Latin verb diligere, meaning “to value or esteem highly” or “to love.”
Well, no wonder I was not diligent in math. I did not highly esteem it or love it!
Some other definitions I came across from Google describing the word diligent are:
Hardworking: You put in consistent energy instead of giving up easily.
Careful & Detailed: You pay close attention to accuracy and do not leave things half-done.
Persistent: You keep going even when a task is hard
Mrs. Phillips wise words have been etched in my mind and I think of that word often when doing a task.
Our culture today has way more distractions than it ever did as a 5th grader in the 80’s.
Distraction is the enemy of diligence.
It is so easy to be distracted.
It is so easy to take the short route…because technology can do things for us.
It is so easy to use chatgpt to do our work and even think for us.
It is so easy to give up when something gets hard because we have become a society who covets easy, relaxing, and convenient.
We don’t want hard.
We don’t want to work.
We don’t want anything to take long. (Amazon prime has sealed this for us!)
The Bible teaches on diligence a whole lot.
In fact, you can find proverbs with that very word.
Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. Proverbs 10:4
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. Proverbs 12:24
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
When I think of Daniel, I think of diligence.
Goodness, He was diligent in all he did.
He never took a short cut, and his life became abundantly blessed due to his diligence and steadfast faithfulness.
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:3
One way I am trying to incorporate more diligence into my days, is by slowing down.
My friend, Candace, taught me this.
She said that even while brushing her teeth, she will remind herself to slow down.
We do things so fast and hurried, don’t we?
Let’s slow down.
Let’s be in the moment and fully present when doing any kind of task.
As I type these words, I am reminded of several things that I need to be more diligent in.
If we ask, God will certainly show us.
Not just show us, but He will help us.
But, we must be aware.
We must slow down.
We must take the time to do things with care and precision.
Not taking short cuts, but going the full distance with excellence and care.
From the most seemingly mundane of activities…like cooking, cleaning, driving….
To the biggest of things…parenting, praying, serving others, our bible reading, our relationships, our marriages…
Instead of being mediocre at many exhausting things, let’s be excellent at fewer things.
God has not called us to be mediocre, but to do the work He has for us…with diligence and excellence.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Diligent.
I used to hate that word because of Mrs. Phillips, but now I respect that word. I want to live out a life of diligence.
God desires our very best in all tasks.
Not perfection, but excellence.
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:31
thank you Mrs. Phillips,
jill
