If there were no work, diligence would have no meaning, for work and diligence are like hand and glove. Without the hand there is no need for a glove. Work has a friend and that friend is diligence.

The real man loves work. Sitting around with nothing to do depresses him. He feels like a caged animal that cannot wait to escape the boredom. The real man finds sitting around twiddling his thumbs an assault on his intelligence as well as an attack on his attitude to life. You cannot stop the real man. He works diligently to find some avenue to put his gifts and talents to use.

Diligence and hard work carries its own reward. The conscience is at peace for you know that you have done your best. You feel good for you know you have worked like a real man. You also gain the respect of others who observe your diligent work and at the end of the week you are rewarded with your well-earned paycheck.

The American Heritage Dictionary describes diligence as:

1) long steady application of one’s occupation or studies, persistent effort, unflagging effort,

2) attentive care, heedfulness.

The Scriptures strongly support the use of diligence when it comes work.

Proverbs 10:4 KJV, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”

NIV, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.”

NLT, “Lazy people are soon poor, hard workers get rich.”

When you look at these Scriptures from a natural perspective, you cannot help but conclude that a man’s wealth is directly related to his diligence. You are more likely to get a pay increase if you work diligently. Employers love diligent employees and if an opportunity arises for promotion, guess who is most likely to receive it? If you have a business of your own, your customers will be grateful for your diligence. They will tell others and your business will grow as well as its profits.