Proverbs 12:26. “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.”
DILIGENCE. The work the Lord has given me is a good work. Not necessarily because it involves constantly being with people and dealing with things that are spiritual and eternal, but because I am confident, He has put me in it. When I am tempted to slack back or consider my work to be less important now that I am getting older, I am reminded that my Lord put me in this area of responsibility, so it will have to be Him that takes me out of it and/or tells me to quit.
Therefore, I must be diligent to use every asset I have to fulfill the responsibilities I have been given. The blessing of good health is for a reason. The amount of money to meet the obligations we have; He has given us. The hours in a day can be used effectively if I am diligent. The degree of intellect He gave me is to be evaluated and used within the confines of my God-given ability. I should never aspire to be what my Lord did not intend me to be.
There will be areas of rule I cannot avoid. People do, and will continue to, ask for my advice and thoughts on a variety of matters. So, I have to consider it is God that made what and who I am; who put me in the place I am, and I must be diligent in maintaining this trust He has given.
“O my gracious Father, the life and work Thou gave me to do has not yet been taken away from me. I feel like I am still young and able to do any work that Thou asks me to do. I know where I am at this moment and doing what I am doing is right. Please continue to use this feeble servant in ways that will bring glory to my Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”