Like in the parable of the talents, in Matthew 25:14-30, we are to use that which has been given to us. It is not for the sake of being diligent that we do this - Jesus rewarded those who used appropriately what they had been given for their faithfulness. Are you faithful with what Jesus has given you?

Or, like the "wicked and lazy servant", do you not put to use your talents? Do you bury your ability to shine light into others lives? Do you bury your ability to help the needy? Do you walk or drive on by the needy person on the side of the footpath or road? Do you still live at home even after uni and getting a job? Do you work at all? Or do you bury and forget your talents?

Jesus states very clearly those who bury the gifts of God shall be thrown into the lake of fire along with the adulterers, fornicators, liars, thieves etc. So profit God today. You've been saved-go and save others. You've been delivered-go and deliver others. You've been given shelter-go and give shelter to others. You've been given creativity-go and create something. You've been taught engineering-go and engineer something. You've been given the gift of prophecy-go and prophecy. You've been given agape love through Jesus on the cross-go and give out agape love, that love which does not expect anything in return but is good for the recipient: epitomised at the cross where Jesus took on your sins and became God the Fathers object of wrath which you should have been.

He's faithfully done His part, will you faithfully do yours?

What is being diligent? Text from Proverbs

(see Work1&2 - Diligence1&2 for these Proverbs references)

Being diligent is excelling in your work; labouring in cold & windy times; making an income before building your house; monitoring the health of and attending to your work; tilling your land; rising early and sleeping late; being known in your field of work; a worker in the summer; and taking into consideration the future years.

Being diligent is not being slothful in your work; refusing to labour; being idle; loving sleep; loving pleasure and wine; it is not being a glutton; scared or being a scaremonger; frivolous; one who gives idle chatter; having a slack hand; sleeping during harvest time; taking a little sleep and a little slumber; forever pressing the snooze button on your alarm (Prov 26:14!).

Being diligent will make you stand before kings and not unknown men; eat the fruit of your work; be honoured; be rich; be satisfied with bread; rule; rise again after a fall; and be profitable.

Being lazy will make you have nothing; be devoid of understanding; be put to forced labour; be smoke to the eyes and vinegar to the teeth of those who employ you; a brother to him who is a great destroyer; suffer hunger; be cast into a deep sleep; beg and have nothing; be a poor man, not rich; destroy yourself; be clothed with rags; and fall by calamity.

There are so many references to diligence and not being lazy in the Bible. This collection of verses is from Proverbs 15-31. I asked myself, how should I think/act/be in the work that I do.

^15:19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

^18:9 He who is slothful in his work
Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

^19:15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

^19:24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

^20:4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

^20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

^21:17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

^21:25 The desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.

^21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But deliverance is of the LORD.

^22:29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.

^23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

^24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

^{24: 27} Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house.

^{24: 33} A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
³⁴ So shall your poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

^26:13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road!
A fierce lion is in the streets!"

^26:14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy man on his bed.

^26:15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

^27:18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his master will be honored.

^27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
And attend to your herds;

^28:19 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

^31:15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

^31:18And her lamp does not go out by night.

^31:19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.

^31:23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

^31:27 She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.