“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” 1 Peter 3:14

How many of us have this as a theme scripture for our lives? Really, how many of us seek to work hard so that we can be undefiled, blameless and at peace upon Jesus’ return? For most of us it’s “work hard to get that pay check” or we do so for a personal sense of pride. I don’t think many of us are thinking about Christ’s return when we go to work every day, when we work on that special project or even when we are raising our children. Our minds may be far from Scripture when we go about our routine tasks even though the Bible tells us of other reasons we should work hard:

1. He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich (Proverbs 10:4).

2. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Proverbs 12:24).

3. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:4).

4. The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one [that is] hasty only to want (Proverbs 21:5).

5. Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men] (Proverbs 22:29).

6. Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds (Proverbs 27:23).

Being rich, in charge, and otherwise prosperous (1-5) are great benefits for us being hard workers, but we are also required to work hard for the benefit of others, as item six tells us: We should work hard to know how well those we are given charge over are faring and to do what we can to help them. We shouldn’t work hard just to reap earthly benefits but so that Jesus will find us the way He expects upon His return for us. This is the great challenge for us but one with an understanding of Scripture that will be easier to achieve.

Copyright by Rhonda J. Smith