Proverbs 22:29 (KJV) “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
Proverbs 22:29 is part of a collection of King Solomon’s wise sayings written to guide individuals in practical living. In this teaching, we shall focus on “diligence” as a pathway to fulfilling our divine purpose. Diligence can be defined as the consistent, wholehearted pursuit of a God-given assignment despite challenges or delays. It means careful, consistent, and persistent effort in doing something. It is a combination of discipline, focus, excellence, and perseverance, that is, the refusal to give up until a task or calling is accomplished. Know that purpose is not fulfilled by mere desire but by dedicated actions.
Every divine purpose requires human responsibility. God reveals purpose, but man must pursue it with focus and faithfulness. Diligence is the bridge between vision and manifestation. A man may know what God has called him to do, but without diligence, that calling remains dormant. The Bible says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Eccl. 9:10). Diligence shows that you value what God has entrusted to you. Apostle Paul pursued his apostolic calling tirelessly, saying, “I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1Cor 15:10). It is diligence – constant practice, learning, and improvement – that turns a gift into a tool fit for God’s use. Diligence is a platform for divine promotion. Without diligence, vision remains imagination, purpose remains potential, and destiny remains prophecy unfulfilled.
Written by: Pastor Andrew A Esemudje