7. DILIGENT IN ALL THAT I DO
“Seest
thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand
before kings; he shall not stand before mean
men.” (Proverbs 22:29)
“Abba Father in Heaven, right now please send Thy
Holy Spirit mightily upon me to firmly engrain into
my soul, the grave importance of me being ever so
diligent in each and ever endeavor I undertake in life, no matter
how small that endeavor might be. Cause me to soberly
think on the true story of the young Jester, horribly
crushed to death into those trees because he did not diligently
follow the flight rules for that dangerous jet he was piloting.
Please stir up a strong craving in my heart to be perfect
as Thou doest command me to be, and thus be an overcomer in the most
perilous times soon to come upon the human race. Amen.”
Young Friend, think deeply on that wonderful
promise to a man diligent
in his business. First of all; “He shall stand before kings.” Think on diligent Joseph in Genesis 41:25 standing before mighty
King Pharaoh and revealing most vital wisdom to that king.
Think on God’s man, Moses, (many years later) coming from the
backside of the desert to stand before a later King Pharaoh (likely the most
powerful king on the earth at that time) and boldly declaring
unto him “Thus saith
the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in
the wilderness.” (Exodus 5:1)
Read the thrilling story in the Book of Daniel Chapter 3 of the
Three Hebrew Young Men defying a powerful king’s order because they would diligently
obey God instead. Tho the great king threw them into the fiery furnace to burn
them up, their Lord entered that fire with them to protect them from all
harm. Read in Chapter 6 of the king throwing Daniel into the lions’ den to be
devoured by them because Daniel diligently prayed to the True
God, which the king forbade. But God kept Daniel from any harm.
Think on many more such thrilling stories in the Bible of faithful
men and women of God being likewise most highly rewarded for being diligent
toward God.
“Lord Jesus Christ my Saviour, if I am most diligent
in all I do for Thee, one day Thou mightest choose me to stand in the gap for
the good or salvation of many souls on earth. Cause me to think seriously
on the eternal value of such a diligent life. Amen.”
Secondly, “he shall not
stand before mean men.” Diligence toward God will tend
to save you from harm that mean
men scheme to bring upon you. Most of the above Bible stories well illustrate that “life-saving”
Truth.
In February 1970, I was a Marine 2nd Lieutenant
finishing up the 5-month training of The Basic School for Marine Corps junior
officers at Marine Base Quantico, Virginia. Toward the end of that training
period, one night my training company held its formal banquet, sort of in
celebration. Then a few days after that, my Platoon Commander summoned me
before him to tell me that just a very few lieutenants in our company have been
selected to be “guests” at the “War College” formal banquet.
The “War College” there at Quantico was much higher-level
training for career elite Majors and Colonels, several of whom were
likely to become generals to lead our nation into war. I think the purpose of
letting just a few of us 2nd lieutenants attend was to inspire us to
become career officers.
The guest speaker at that War College banquet was none other than
the highest-ranking Marine in our nation, The Commandant
of the Marine Corps, Four Star General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr. After the dinner and this general’s
motivating speech, I mingled freely among everyone present, most mindful of my
low rank and their most high ranks. Soon a high-ranking officer came to me, led
me up to my Commandant, General Chapman, and introduced me to him. The
four-star general shook my hand warmly, talked friendly with me as a photographer
took my picture with the Commandant. (Then I knew to soon thank General Chapman
and excuse myself to “get out of his way.”)
Few Marines ever get the
chance to shake hands with and personally greet their Commandant. It was
a most memorable event in my life. I think my platoon leader chose me
to be one of the few low-ranking officer guests because I do
not drink alcohol. Everyone present could freely consume the
intoxicating wine being served. Had a 2nd lieutenant drank too much
and made a drunken idiot of himself in front of the Commandant, there would
have been terrible consequences.
Four Star General Chapman was hardly a
king. But he was a great man of most high standing in everyone’s eyes. Likely
my diligence in totally abstaining from destructive
alcohol was the reason I was chosen to stand before him at this grand
banquet.
Think on my next story of the Father lying
on the couch because tobacco and alcohol had disabled him. He spoke so
hopefully of going to Alaska to work a high paying job. But he soon died
instead, because he was not diligent to live a clean life.
“Almighty God My Creator and Soon-Coming
Judge, please make me diligent in all matters. Help
me to live a clean, pure, upright life, like the 3 Hebrew
children and Daniel, and many others, so that I may stand before kings and not
before mean men. Help Missionary Richard to turn many Japanese idol worshippers
to their Creator to diligently live for Thee. Amen.”
“Watch ye
therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh…Lest coming
suddenly he find you sleeping.” (Mark 13:35 &
36) “Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art my Lord
and Master. I know Thou art coming soon to take Christians to
Heaven. Please help me to daily, diligently watch
for Thy Coming. Amen.”
Richard Yerby (Matsuida,
Japan) www.Christ-is-all.us