There are different effects for being diligent and not being diligent, and by closely examining these effects, a conclusion can be made about how we should apply diligence to our lives. Diligence is “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic application and effort†(Webster’s Dictionary). John MacArthur defines diligence as “the ability to regulate one’s conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than by impulse, desire, or social custom.†The Bible says in first Timothy 4:7b, “on the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.†In other words, be diligent. In this paper the effects of not being diligent, the effects of being diligent, how we should apply diligence to our lives, and examples of people who where and were not diligent will be shown. This paper will also show how to become diligent, examples of people who are diligent both in the Bible and during today, and examples of people who are not diligent both in the Bible and today.
There are never any good affects for not being diligent. It may seem easy to not work when you should be working, but in the end, it is not worth it. The Bible has a lot to say about not being diligent. Proverbs 10:26 shows that a sluggard, or someone who is not diligent, is not useful to anyone when it says, “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.†This verse shows that if you are not self-disciplined, then no one will want to hire you, and you will not get a good job. Another example of the ill affects of laziness, or lack of diligence, can be found in Proverbs 19:15, where it says, “laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.†This verse enforces what Proverbs 10:26 says. It shows that if you are lazy, you cannot get work. Moreover, if you cannot get work, you cannot get food. We are encouraged to work diligentl