Chapter one

Diligence

She has slaughtered her meat, she has missed her wine, she has
also furnished her table. Prov. 9:2

The first reality that dropped in my heart is that there is a meat;

there is wine and there is a table. Now the question is for how many
persons? It is downing on me that for everybody there are these
provisions. These provisions handle the basic needs of every man. The
meat stands for our nutrition; the wine stands for our happiness and
the table our placement pr position in life. All these things have
been provided for before any of us came into this earth

We can see that she did not slaughter anothers meat. It was her very
meat that she slaughtered. If you can quickly check with me, you will
find out also for the wine and the table, it was hers. It is an
offense to begin to go about slaughtering other persons meat. There
is something about bearing the wine of others. Nehemiah had the cup of
the kings wine but he never tasted of it. He could carry wine and not
be happy because it was not his own. But the good news is that we have
our own wine.

Severally, we envy other peoples table. We pray and wish that our own
is turns out automatically like that. Many a tam we have been made to
think their table just emerged. We must note that on earth nothing
emerges. They were all created. Have you seen a prepared table before?
What do you think is the brain behind it? Someone set it, Right? The
reason our table is not set is not because we dont have our own table
(of course everybody do) it is simply because somehow we have not set
it. Have you seen anybody who is well-placed in life? What do you
think? Show me such a person and Ill show you a diligent man. So what
is diligence?

Diligence is doing what is required in the stipulated time. It is the

persistent effort that comes when men had to achieve a particular
goal. Diligence is the difference a successful man and a failing man.
No man is born to fail. But some men do fail anyway. What is the
missing link? Ill say diligence. Several people see wisdom as the
application of knowledgeknow-how to put to action what has been
known. What about knowing what to do and not having the required
discipline to do it. Without diligence supporting wisdom it is almost
meaningless to have wisdom. For there to be a forward movement, there
must be the application of force. Its amazing to know that friction
helps to keep us on track. Without friction we will slip over and
definitely fall. That is, friction is the mark of progress. How does
this connect to diligence? Diligence is that force required for
pushing through friction. We are coming from this angle and friction
is saying, no way, you cannot pass though here. Then you insist, I
must pass through that point because it is the shortest route to my
destiny. Surely a min fight will erupt as a result. Friction got
power and we must also exercise some power in order to break-through.
That power is known as diligence. But several people fail to exercise
diligence. They will rather sit down, turn around or find some reason
not to continue at all.

He who has a slack hand becomes poor. But the hand of the
diligent makes rich; He who gathers in summer is a wise son, he
who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame. Prov. 10:4-5

We are seeing again that it is not that someone is born poor anywhere.
Poverty is directly connected to our hands and our hands, work. There
are different kinds of hands. The outcome any man will receive is as a
result of his kind of hand. This is what we have been saying.

but the hand of the diligent makes rich

It is diligence that makes rich. Riches are made. The means is one,
diligence. Riches in this context do not refer to money. It could mean
money only if we are talking to business people. However, when the
Word is directed towards students, then it would mean academic
excellence. What do riches mean to you? The issue is that no matter
what is may be, it does come while praying. Some brethren prefer
sitting down and discussing or even praying rather than doing
something with their hands. They will eventually begin to think that
God is the one who is refusing to do something.

Unfortunately nothing moves unless someone moves it. And nothing stops
unless someone stops it. It is beyond dreaming wishing; we are talking
about work. They will wish someone will tell them to keep trusting God
while they do nothing. Whenever God would help a man, He would share
the responsibility with that man. What I cannot point at exactly is
the right percentage. But I can guess. Maybe man takes 70% while God
takes 30%. Are you surprised? Then you need to take your mind through
all the miracles our Lord Jesus did. For that of Blind Bartemaeus (he
is no longer blind, who did shouted, cried, drew near, removed the old
clothing of sickness and made prayers? What did Lord Jesus do? He
simply spoke a word and that was the miracle. I used to think that the
Lord waits for us so he can confirm our efforts. Whilst several people
would rather wait for the Lord to finish the work, perhaps theirs is
to confirm it.

Moreover, diligence is doing required work in the required time. There

is always a time to gather. We dont gather all the time. And we dont
have all the time to do one thing. It is worthy of note that some
persons will eventually do something. But by the time they put their
hands into work, it had become just too late. A lazy man is not
necessarily one who does nothing. It could mean one who does many
things in the wrong time. They will prefer to do whatever in their
convenient time. However, life is warfare and the world is a battle is
a battle field. Whenever convenience comes into play in the battle
front, it results into hazards. You dare not wait for your turn. The
rule is push to destiny.

Perhaps, I should mention that all who made it to destiny all pushed
through. You have to force your way through for you to become what God
has planned that you be. The promises of God over your head will not
come to pass on the platter of gold. Until you arise and begin to take
practical steps towards destiny everything will remain in a stand
still. I believe its time for us to start asking, what can I do and
not what will God do? God has no intention to make clones out of us.
He desires to make men. The implication of being men is that we shall
all be accountable for whatever comes out of our life.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in His own image in the image of God created
He them, male and female created He them,

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and
multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion
overGen 1:26-28

Now let me ask you, was Adam a lazy man? From the very beginning God
never intended that the man He created will be lazy. He wired man to
work. You have been wired by God to do work. That is why work does not
kill. Every work before you is Gods provision for you. And you have
been tailor-made to fit into it effectively. God does not understand
our excuses. This is because. He has put in us all it takes to fulfill
our mission on earth, not because we asked for it but because we came
with them. How many persons truly know this? Anytime we complain or
murmur over work that has been given to us, God feels insulted.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall
he beg in harvest and have nothing. Prov. 20:4

Anytime a man is not diligent he has his reasons. Laziness is the

father of excuses. Why did you not sow? Because it rained heavily and
everywhere is too wet. Why did you not plow? Because is too cold for a
normal human being to go out. Now this is not where the problem lies.
It is actually in the time of harvest. Usually by that time our
excuses are gone. Nobody says it is too difficult so I will not eat.

He that observeth the wind shall not sow and he that regarded the
clouds shall not reap. Eccles. 11:4

There are different kinds of winds if you inquire from the

geographers, theyll list all types of wind to you and their
functions. One unique thing about the wind is that they all have their
interpretations. It is this interpretation that constitutes the
problem for certain people. The instruction from the Lord is that we
must look away from every wind and go ahead to sow Winds are very
unstable and unpredictable. Several times they never seem to stop.

Today it is this kind of wind and in the night another type will come.
Everything that had constituted excuses for you not doing what you are
supposed to do is a wind.

What kind of wind have you been observing? You have been trapped in
checking, studying and analyzing the wind which is a very difficult
work to do. Great people are simply those who use their time very well
to solve problems for other people. Here time is treasure. The
difference from where I am to where I ought to be is time management.
Time is the platform to execute purpose.

Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise

which having no guild, oversee or rule, provideth her meat in the
summer and gathereth her food in the harvest;

How long wild thou sleep, o sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of
they sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little
folding of the hands to sleep. So shall they poverty come as one
that travelleth and thy want as an armed man. Prov. 6:6-11

Sleep is a state of inactivity; a state of tiredness of the mind; a

state of unconsciousness to the reality of life. A sleeping man is
conscious of untrue images. Sometimes these pictures can be very nice,
you know? Its when sleep has gotten to its next level that one begin
to dream dreams. Dreams as nice as they may appear are only unreal
imaginary pictures. When you fully engage in dreaming dreams, the
bible will begin to refer to you as an old man. All those times you
have spent doing nothing, you are simply sleeping. Most people make us
believe that sleep is very god for their health.

However, in terms of impact, sleep is a virus that must be terminated

before it terminates us. It is not the will Of God from the beginning
to compare us animals (even ant). But some brethren warranted this.
Instead of arising to do something, they rather lie down and be keep
dreaming. I think you have dreamt enough. Its time you stood up and
worked.

No matter how much a lazy person may want something he will never
get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants. Prov.
13:4(TEV)

Sit down there wishing and dreaming and you will get nothing. The act
of moving dream to purpose is action. And it takes simply a diligent
hand to convert dreams to testimony. He tells himself I can, and he
will do. It is the doing part that is the matter. Situations will not
always be favorable. But the brave at heart will win. How many things
are stored up there in your mind? Can you plan to take them off your
mind and put them on your hands? How long have you been sleeping?
There has not been a man that got his name into history while on his
bed sleeping.

Unfortunately, just knowing what to do does not guarantee success.

There is still a very long distance between knowing what to do and
actually doing it. This gap is so far apart that many persons dont
really get to that place of doing. The vehicle that will convey us
right into where God desires for us to be is diligence. Diligence is
good but she is all the time tasking this person or that person.
Everybody hates diligence by default. But wise people, only pretend to
be involve with diligence while they pursue their goal.

Every soul is in the lookout for pleasure and satisfaction. But that
is exactly what diligence will take from us. She does not respect
anybody. No matter who, diligence will definitely take this from you.
But the game is understandable: Give what you can give now to collect
what it will give later (interest). Someone said extra mile for extra-
smile. Are you ready to ply this roadthe path to greatness? Then do
it today what you have to do today.