Diligence Is Not An Option

The importance of being diligent is seen throughout the Bible, but especially in the account where Jesus described the greatest commandment as He summed up the Ten Commandments this way:

Mark 12:29–31 (ESV) — 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

If you are going to be “all in” in serving God as described by Jesus – with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you will be diligent about whatever you do. It’s expected if you’re a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. This isn’t the case in the world. Instead of diligence there is slothfulness, distractedness, and an attitude of always ready to jump to something that appears better. No wonder Peter described the importance of “making every effort” which could also be translated “giving all diligence” in application. Notice the reason he gives:

2 Peter 1:5–8 (ESV) — 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s consider those first four words, “for this very reason.” What is the reason to make every effort? Just consider the investment that God has in you.

2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

He has invested His divine power and all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has opened the rich storehouse of knowledge of Himself. He has called you to His own glory and excellence. He has even granted you His promises. And He has done all this so you can escape the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires.

That list above is fantastic, but it’s only the beginning of benefits. When you consider all that He has done for you, is it too much to ask that you apply yourself with full diligence in loving and serving Him?

Let’s go back then to the text in which He calls upon us to be fully committed in making every effort or “giving all diligence.”

The full-blown effort in this passage is to supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Although it implies that our efforts are that which produce such things, it’s really the effort to stay in tune to the working of the Holy Spirit Who works in us to produce what is called, “The fruit of the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:19–23 (ESV) — 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

The diligent effort is not to try to produce fruit, rather to make every effort to cooperate with the working of the Holy Spirit in crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires and in keeping in step with the working of the Holy Spirit – especially through the word of God and prayer.

Galatians 5:24–26 (ESV) — 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Back to 2Peter and the need to be diligent. Please notice the motivation that if these qualities are seen in you as you walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh, then you will be spared being “ineffective and unfruitful” in the knowledge our Lord Jesus Christ.

Think about how important it is to be fruitful. We cannot produce fruit on our own, it must be the flow of the Spirit of God in us and through us producing spiritual fruit. Hence, Jesus reminds us that the Father is looking for fruit and He will do what is necessary in pruning us so we’ll produce more fruit but also those who do not produce fruit, He takes away. He also reminded us that without Him we can do nothing. Since fruit bearing is of utmost importance, we should sit and take heed to Peter’s admonition to be diligent or make every effort.

John 15:1–2 (ESV) — 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:5 (ESV) — 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

This effort that we apply does not go unnoticed by God. Consider the words of Jeremiah and the results of applying this attitude toward seeking God.

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV) — 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

You cannot hide from the call in the scriptures to apply yourself in whatever you do with all your heart. In other words, diligence is not an option.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker, Pastor

Christ Community Presbyterian Church

Clearwater, FL