Christian Diligence, With The Blessings That Go

Along With It, In Opposition To Laziness, Security, Backsliding, And The Like.

Adapted from A Sermon By

The Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverbs 13:4 ESV

This morning we will consider Christian Diligence, with the blessings that go along with it, in opposition to the laziness, security, backsliding, and the like.

And the verses that Isaac Watts would set before us is Proverbs 13:4: The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Should we apply these words to labour or learning, to trade or religion, to the concerns of this life, or that which is to come, still we will find this sentence of Solomon true and useful; it is a remark well worthy of our attention, and our closest study.

The diligent person, considered either as a man or a Christian, is well on his way to obtain the good things he seeks: His desire will be satisfied, his soul will be made richly supplied, or filled with them, he will increase in earthly possessions, he will abound in knowledge and wisdom, or he will grow rich in grace and the fruits of righteousness;

but the lazy person will be poor indeed. In vain he sits with folded hands, and wishes for the blessings of nature or grace, of time or eternity: The idle hand will be empty still, he will desire in vain, and will never possess.

Diligence is the central theme of this sermon, the diligence of a man or a Christian. We will start, first to describe it in all its several parts, and then take a short survey of the blessings, temporal and spiritual, which accompany it; and as we go, we will hear some occasional hints of the crime and punishment of the contrary vices.

First, Let us consider what are the several things which are implied in true diligence, whether in relation to the things of this life, or the life to come.

I. Diligence includes the use of every part of our time in proper business, and so it stands in opposition both to loitering and doing nothing at all, to dawdling, or doing what is unprofitable, and to not doing the duties which are to be done in a timely manner.

Every person in the world has some proper business to do every day, for God, for themselves, or for the good of their fellow-creatures. Mankind, even in the golden age of innocence, was not made for idleness. Adam was put into the garden of Eden, to work it and keep it; Gen. 2. 8, 15. and it is our duty to wisely enquire into what is our proper work, and to busy ourselves in it. But how many idle creatures are there in the world that act quite contrary to this rule? Here are three examples of such shameful behavior:

1. How many do we find who saunter their lives away, and let their days, and months, and years run to waste in doing nothing at all, as though they were brought into the world to eat, drink and sleep, to waste life away, and then to lie down in death?

What a sad abuse of these precious blessings, life and time! “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, said our Lord, as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work;” John 9. 4. Let us all be imitators of our blessed Lord. The business of the rich is to make their wealth useful to the good of the world, and to the interests of religion: The business of the poor is to work to obtain their daily bread, and not be burdensome to their neighbours, nor useless inhabitants of the earth: The business of a scholar is to improve his mind in daily knowledge; and as for all the learned professions, their business is to lay out that knowledge for the ease and happiness of mankind in this world, or the next.

It is the proper business of a sinner to seek after converting grace, to return to God by repentance, to secure his salvation by faith in the Son of God, and all instances of new obedience. It is the proper business of a true Christian to grow in grace, to adorn his profession with holiness, and abound in good works. It is the necessary and daily business of a mortal and an accountable creature to prepare for death and judgment, that he may die in peace, and give up his account with joy, if he should be suddenly summoned away. And so it appears that every creature has some proper business, both relating to this life, and the life to come: And therefore a sauntering and idle life is a great offence to the God of nature and grace, of time and eternity.

2. Procrastinating or wasting time in trivial pursuits, is another vice contrary to this part of diligence.

Doing nothing useful, is little better than doing nothing at all: As if a young person pursuing the study of medicine, should lay aside his books, and spend his whole time in measuring squares and circles, and mathematical proofs; or if a tradesman, or an artisan, who must be busy providing daily bread for himself and his family, should waste his days in coffee-houses, still learning, and still discussing of the details of Charter rights, or in adjusting the merits or deceptions of the latest war.

This is such ill behavior in the sight of God and men, as deserves the just reproaches of men, and punishment from the hand of providence. To wear out those times in idle or foolish talk, which are appointed for useful labour or business, is a great abuse of time, and merits the frequent censure of Solomon the wisest of men. Mere talk leads only to poverty, a babbling fool will be ruined: Prov. 14. 23. and 10. 8. And too many there are who pretend to Christianity, but they are only talking Christians instead of being active in their appointed duties, and their zeal for religion appears nowhere but in their tongues.

Others also will be pronounced idle, and dawdlers at the bar of God, who lay out all their minds in little controversies, perhaps about mint, anise and cumin, or in vindication of rites and forms, and ceremonies which God never appointed, while they neglect the weighty matters of the law and the gospel, justice and goodness, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus, the correction of their tempers, and the amendment of their lives. Again,

3. Mistiming the various actions of life is another abuse of time, and contrary to true diligence.

There is a time, said the wise man, for every purpose under heaven, and every thing is beautiful in its season; Eccles. 3. 1, 11. If we should be dancing at midnight, and sleeping at church, or seeking our diversions in an hour of business; if we should work with our hands, when the season calls us to our private meditations, or spend that time in reading and prayer, which is appointed for the labours and cares of the family: these are all failures in our duty, and contrary to the true diligence which the word of God requires.

That is but dawdling or objectionable behavior in one season, which is a necessary duty at another; nor will any works out of season prosper or succeed well, or be approved of God: And yet there are some persons so habitually guilty of this folly, that whenever the certain season of any duty returns, they are ever beginning to do something else first, which perhaps they did not think of before, which would be much better left until afterwards. Prov. 6. 6. Go to the ant, O sluggard, who seizes, the days of summer and fair weather to gather her food, and hides herself at winter, and lives upon her former provision.

II. The second thing implied in true diligence is earliness in opposition to delay.

If we consider ourselves as men, the early man shows that his heart is in his work; but he that from hour to hour, or from day to day, delays the practice of any duty or service, gives sufficient evidence that he does not like it, and would never perform it at all, if he could safely avoid it. If we begin the service of the day early, we are likely to avoid many hinderances, and we are not in danger of being thrown into a hurry by unforeseen events: We have hours before us to do our work well, to review and correct it: We keep calm, and are composed amidst our cares and labours, and finish our planned work with honour.

But if we allow our work to lie neglected towards the end of the appointed time, we are ever in a hurry, in perpetual confusion, we are ruffled with every incident that comes in our way, and gives us the least hinderance, and we never perform our work with such accuracy or such success. Have we not sometimes learned these inconveniences by sad experience, and will we ever be guilty of delays again?

Or if we consider ourselves as Christians, have we not found that, by needless delays, we have lost the season of morning prayer, and could never recover it again, but have passed the morning without solemn addresses to the God of our lives? And has not many a sinner felt the dreadful consequences of his delays of repentance, when, day after day, and week after week, his own conscience, and the voice of God in his Word, have called upon him to repent and return to God, and invited him to accept of pardon and peace, to receive the grace of Christ and everlasting life?

What terrible agonies of soul, what reproaches of conscience on a dying bed, what horror of spirit in the review of his cursed delays? And with what tormenting despair his soul has been hurried out of this life, and been plunged into an eternal state, without hope, or at least in a terrible uncertainty?

Children, can you hear this, and not cry out now, while there is still time, what must I do to be saved? Acts 16. 30. Can you hear this in the days of your youth, and delay any longer to make sure of your immortal concerns, and provide for the approaching hour of death and judgment? It is a dangerous thing for children in their younger years to learn the language of idleness, and to cry out on every occasion, “I am young, I have lots of time before me to take these things seriously, later, later, that will be the time.” They generally grow up to feel the bitter fruits of delay.

It is an excellent rule in the things of earth or of heaven, “Never leave that to be done the next hour, which may properly be done now, nor dare to put off until tomorrow the business which you may as well begin to-day.” You do not know what a day may bring. Prov. 27. 1. He that has done his work today is safe, but tomorrow may be all disappointment.

Let us who pretend to be Christians, or to have a regard to God and religion; let us, as soon as we take notice of any duty, promptly perform it. Upon the first conviction of sin, let us apply ourselves immediately to God for pardoning and sanctifying grace: Let us return to our duty with early diligence, like David, As soon as you have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments; Psalm 27. 8. and 119. 60.

III. Diligence implies activity and strength, in opposition to sloth and laziness, weariness and indifference.

It is not lazy wishes that will perform work, or obtain a blessing. The sluggard craves and gets nothing, Proverbs 13. 4. therefore the wise man’s advice is, Eccles. 9. 10. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; then it is likely to be finished in its proper time: But the slothful person is slow to complete his work; he moves heavily in his business, just as he does upon his bed, as a door turns on its hinges, and never moves forwards, Prov. 26. 14. A beautiful simile that is, nor is the description of the sluggard less elegant, verse 15. When “the sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.”

And what poor work does a Christian make who is cold, indifferent, slothful, and lazy in the things which concern his soul and salvation? He makes a pretence to religion, but how poorly does he advance in it who has no activity, no vigour, no fervency in it? Where he was last year, there he is now, or else gone farther backward: His sins are still as un-mortified, his temptations still as powerful and prevailing, his hopes still as low, and his holiness as much interrupted as in years past: He was not fit to appear before God then, and he is no fitter now: He was then in terror at the thoughts of dying, and he is still in the same terror. The slothful Christian, upon self inspection, finds his faith has scarce improved one grain; he is no nearer salvation than when at first he believed.

Is this the obedience we owe to the command of Christ? Luke 13. 24. Strive to enter through the narrow door, work for the food that endures to eternal life; John 6. 27. Pay attention the advice of the blessed apostle. Rom 12. 11 . Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Here is a question for the lazy Christians of our present age, “Is this an imitation of ancient saints, who worked night and day to get nearer to heaven, and, as it were, took the kingdom of heaven by a holy violence?” Let us rouse ourselves then, and shake off this lethargy of soul, this dull attitude; let us call up all our natural and Christian powers to life, and so may we not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises; Heb. 6. 12.

IV. True diligence implies also watchfulness, in opposition to a drowsy, careless attitude, a thoughtless security of soul.

We have to be awake to seize all advantages for our work, as well as to guard against surprises and dangers. How dreadfully is the sluggard exposed to loss and ruin! If the sailors sleep in their voyage, they run upon sands and rocks, and lose their ship and their lives. If a sentinel sleeps in his watch-tower, the enemy gains great advantage, and seizes some important post, or enters the gates of the city. How often has a whole army been surprised and routed, who rested secure in their camp, and kept no due watch?

We Christians are soldiers under the banner of Christ; our enemies are many within and without; our great adversary, the devil, is malicious and busy; if we indulge security and drowsiness, he seizes every unguarded hour to wound, and defile, and distress our souls. Therefore the apostle Peter demands our watchfulness. 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. One unwatchful hour, one slumber in the day of temptation, has given Satan opportunity for untold mischief, and given reason to a Christian for bitter repentance all his days. Will we then ever give in to the enticements of slothful nature? Will we ever gratify the tempter in this way to our own certain loss, and to the danger of our eternal ruin?

V. Diligence yet further implies a constancy in our work, in opposition to looking back, and perpetual indulgence in diversions and pleasures.

The foolish Israelites were often looking back to the leeks, and onions, and delicacies of Egypt, and were in danger of losing the promised land. Where love of pleasure and diversion often interrupts the business we are engaged in, we will accomplish but poor broken work, and have but little hope to succeed in it. Prov. 21. 17. Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man.

And as they can never grow rich in temporal things who are carried away from their business by every diversion, so neither can a Christian grow rich in grace, who frequently interrupts his duty to indulge in play and carnal delights. We have to be steadfast and constant in our Christian race, and not turn aside from the path of duty to gather this and the other flower of sensual pleasure, if we would finish our race with joy, and so run as to obtain the prize.

VI. Another thing implied in true diligence, is firmness and resolution in our labour, in opposition to all the difficulties which accompany our work.

We suppose every valuable and excellent project has some difficulties, more or less, always associated with it; some hardship which have to be endured, some obstacles and impediments which must be overcome; but if we are frightened at every shadow of difficulty, we will never fulfil our service, nor attain our goal. This, Solomon has often observed: The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. He complains There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets, where the path of duty lies; therefore he sits down in slothfulness, and keeps himself safe and idle at home. The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns; he imagines every step he takes in the path of diligence and industry has such troubles accompanying it, such thorns and briars, as he calls them, that he cannot break through, and therefore he refuses to work. See Prov. 20. 4. and 26. 13. and 15. 19

And is it not the same in spiritual things? How many are there who decry the ways of religion as painful and hard? They are frightened at the duties of repentance, self-denial, and mortification of sin, at cutting off right hands, and plucking out right eyes; they are offended at persecution, which sometimes rises against strict godliness; the frowns of the world terrify their hearts; they dare not stand out in the profession of faith, or the practice of virtue: They are ashamed of the worship and the name of God in the midst of profane and sinful men; they go back, as some disciples did in the days of Christ, and no longer walk with him: But let us remember the divine threatenings, the one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back; Luke 9. 62. my soul, said the Lord, has no pleasure in him; Heb. 10. 38.

VII. The last character we will ascribe to the diligent man is, perseverance, in opposition to fainting and weariness.

The diligent man must hold out to the end, if he expects to have his labour crowned. An imperfect work among men is worth very little: It is the end that crowns all.

And it is just the same in religion: Unless we persevere in the duties of holiness, we have no reason to expect the divine reward: but the glorious recompence is sure to us if we do not give up, … and so let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap; Gal. 6. 9. The apostle Paul, just before his martyrdom, rejoices in this; he had fought the good fight, in opposition to all the enemies of the gospel, and he had finished the race, and kept the faith: Henceforth, said he, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness; 2 Tim. 4. 7.

Let us be encouraged by his blessed example, and by the promise of our Lord Jesus to the church of Ephesus. Rev. 2. 10. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let these thoughts awaken our drowsy spirits, and prolong our patience in the work of the Lord, that we may not at last be found of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls; Heb. 10. 39.

So far the several things implied in diligence or industry, both in matters of this life, and that which is to come have been set before us; but to some degree the second general heading has been addressed, by often touching upon the happy fruits of diligence, as well as the dismal consequences of all the contrary vices. The remaining work, therefore, will be very short, and that is, to mention, in a more direct and distinct manner, the blessings which accompany diligence in a course of virtue and goodness; and they are such as these:

1 . Diligence has a natural tendency to success, and to obtain the good things we seek. In all toil, says Solomon, there is profit; Prov. 14. 23. Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread; Prov. 12. 11. and the hand of the diligent makes rich; Prov. 10. 4. But as for the field of the slothful, it is overgrown with thorns; nettles and briars cover it; Prov. 24. 30. And slumber will clothe a man with rags; 23. 21.

It is the same in spiritual things as in the things of nature. Diligence in seeking the knowledge of God will be crowned with an increase of sacred knowledge. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, says Paul to Timothy, that all may see your progress; 1 Tim. 4. 14. Diligence and labour with our own hearts, in weaning them from the world, and a fervent constancy in the pursuits of godliness, is the proper and rational way to obtain the blessings of grace and glory. But in the second place,

2. Diligence has the rich and special promises of a faithful God to encourage its hope. What David said to his son Solomon, with regard to building the temple, the gospel says the same to every Christian. 1 Chron. 22. 16. Arise and work! The Lord be with you: And Solomon gave the same advice to his son, and the same promise. Prov. 2. 3, 4. If you seek after wisdom as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Make every effort, says Peter in the name of Christ; 2 Pet. 1. 5-10. make every effort, and add one Christian grace to another, add to your faith virtue, to your virtue self-control, patience, godliness, and brotherly affection. Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

3. Diligence and determination are a happy guard against snares and temptations of every kind. When the devil finds you idle, he has a good occasion to assault you with some powerful temptation: He will employ you in his work, when he finds your hands and hearts entirely at leisure and unemployed: Whoever is not awake to his duty is not awake to his danger, and is easily surprised into mischief; but the wakeful, diligent Christian, is like Nehemiah's builders on the walls of Jerusalem, each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other; Neh. 4. 17. and in this way their work went on with good success and safety.

4. Diligence is always making a progress towards its designed end, but the slothful man is in great danger of going backward. The gardener, who neglects his daily work, will find the ground which he has cultivated overrun with weeds again in a little time. If a boater, who rows against the stream, is slothful and drowsy, his vessel will make no progress, but rather will be carried backward continually: So if a worker pays attention to the enticements of drowsy nature, and learns this slothful language, A little sleep, a little slumber, poverty will come upon you like a robber; Prov. 24. 33, 34. and rob him of all his gains.

Negligent, and unwatchful, and lazy Christians, will, for the most part, lose what they have gained in the things of religion too: The apostle John, in his second epistle, verse 8. guards against it. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. How many have lost their first zeal, their first love, and their early joys in religion, by a sinful security of soul, and for lack of a proper concern to grow in grace. It is growth in religion that evidences the truth of it, and secures the comforts of it.

5. The diligent Christian is a most useful person in the world; he does the most good himself, and becomes an excellent example to all that are round about him. He lays the sluggard under continual conviction, and puts him to daily shame, if he has any of his senses awake to see, or feel, or take notice. Such a Christian animates and encourages all that are near him to the same diligence, as fire kindles fire, and spreads the blaze far and near. Active and lively Christians make one another's hearts warm in religion, and help to diffuse the sacred fire round about. The zealous servants of the blessed God give credit and honour to their profession; but what a shameful thing it is, to see some Christians idle and careless in the duties of their daily calling, and slothful and lazy in their practice of religion too. The truth is, they do not make religion their practice, but a mere matter of talk and sound; and while they refuse to labour in the position where God has placed them, they disgrace their profession, and expose themselves to the just and severe sentence of the apostle. 2 Thess. 3. 10. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat, that is, let him starve, for Christianity is never a pretence for idleness.

6. The diligent Christian finishes his work with peace, hope, and joy. He can review his conduct and his labours with an inward satisfaction, and a sacred pleasure of soul: his conscience is a joyful witness; he does not only have a safe, but a ready and sure entrance generally provided to him into the heavenly kingdom, and he obtains a better crown; for the Lord, the righteous Judge, will render to each one according to his works; Rom. 2. 6-11.

The one who had one talent, and increased it, by gaining ten more, had rule over ten cities: The one who gained five talents, had five cities under his government, Luke 19. 17, 19. But let us dread the curse of the wicked and slothful servant: Notice how the slothful servant is pronounced wicked by the mouth of Christ himself. Matt. 25. 26. He is to be cast… into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The slothful sinner, at the end of his days, sees his great work undone, his heart not yet turned to God and godliness, and is overwhelmed with horror when he sees death and judgment approaching. It is the cry of his soul, Let me die the death of the upright; Num. 23. 10. but there is no crown of righteousness for him, no prize of glory; he has neither run nor fought, nor laboured so as to obtain it. He wishes for heaven in vain; his desires are his torment, for they will never be fulfilled; desire and despair are misery enough.

Happy is the soul who has been faithful, diligent, and watchful in every circumstance of life, and has made suitable advances in faith, and love, and holiness. He waits until his Lord comes, and he rejoices in hope, for he will then receive the glorious sentence from the lips of his Judge, Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master; Matt. 25. 21, 23. and be blessed in the upper world, in proportion to the talents I trusted you with on earth, and to your diligent and faithful improvement of every talent.