DIGGING DEEP NO. 938 – June 7th 2022 THE NEED FOR DILIGENCE Proverbs 6:6-8

Are you a self-starter? Or do you need to be told what to do? And then be reminded to do it? What should you do today that no one else will say anything to you about? What needs to be done that no one else will step up and do? Will you get it done? And get it done well? Do you have enough sense of responsibility to know what you ought to do and to do it?

                 Solomon in this proverb continued to condemn and warn sluggards by comparing them to ants Prv 6:6-11. These little people do not need a meeting every morning to be told what to do and how to do it. They go to work and get things done, well done, now! They hardly need a review of Bible Economics, because they committed to its rules years ago. The ants provide an excellent lesson and example in diligence, frugality, and savings. Instead of an MBA, you need to study ants at an ant farm. They work hard all summer to provide for their needs during the fall, winter, and spring Prv 6:8; 30:25. They work hard, consume little, and save much. All three of these traits are great virtues.

 And they do it without direction. The ants do not have a boss or manager to remind them of diligence, frugality, and saving. They do these things instinctively by God’s wise creation. It is said that most people cannot copy the virtues of these little people. Solomon warned his son about human sluggards that do not work during harvest Prv 10:5; 20:4.

 Many people must be forced to work, reminded to work, told how to work, reproved for jobs poorly done, reminded how to do the job right, and constantly followed to keep them working Prv 6:9-11; 20:13. They are a pain and problem. They will take a day off for a cold or headache. If the boss is away, they will play. These are sluggards. Others spend everything they make, much of it on pleasure Prv 21:17,20; 23:21. They will spend next month’s labor by using credit cards for entertainment and toys today. Others like them will invest their money in foolish schemes that rob them and their family Prv 28:19. It has never occurred to them there is no necessity to spend all their income.

 These two kinds of people – the sluggard and the waster – are brothers. They both come from a family of financial ruin Prv 18:9. They could learn much from the ant, but they are too proud to consider such insignificant creatures, though King Solomon did! They are so arrogant and so addicted to sleep that no reason will convince them Prv 26:16.

Savings is not a suggestion. It is a command Prv 6:8; 30:25. The ants do it by the instinct God put in them. Good people do it by the conviction of the truth God revealed to them. But most people, especially today, do not save. They are devoid of financial wisdom.

 Parents, you are responsible to teach your children hard work, wise foresight, spending discipline, and constant saving. These four simple traits will do more for their future financial and personal success than any other natural investment you can make in them. Do not settle for helping them with their Psychology homework – which they will never use and only distracts their minds from profitable learning. Teach them about the ant!

The cure for sluggards and spendthrifts is simple and obvious. Starve them. They will quickly learn both virtues – diligence and saving. This is the wisdom of God, Prv 20:4; 2Thess 3:6-14. Christian charity extends only to acts of God, not sloth or waste, only to necessary things, not toys or entertainment

Paul warned that every man shall bear his own burden Gal 6:5. You cannot blame your parents, teachers, or pastor for failure, either financially or spiritually. This is especially true if you had good parents and were taught in a Christian church. The more advantages you have had, the more you will be punished by the perfectly fair God Luke 12:47-48. Beloved, what should you be doing today that you are not? Do you need someone to tell you, again? Do you need to be punished by authority or circumstances to do it? Consider the ant and do what you ought to be doing. You will be blessed in the deed naturally and spiritually. You should be especially eager to get at your spiritual duties.

Conclusion: Jesus Christ was the ultimate self-starter. He was focused on obeying His Father from the beginning, which He showed even at age twelve in the temple. And He did this despite His mother and Joseph not understanding or helping Him toward His goal Luke 2:49; John 4:34. Hear Him speak of His burden to serve His Father: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work” John 9:4.

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