Diligence.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 14

Christ, an example. Mar. 1:35. Luke 2.49.

REQUIRED BY GOD IN

Seeking Him. 1 Chron. 22:19¹⁹Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 22:19). Heb. 11:6⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6).

Obeying Him. Deut. 6:17¹⁷Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. (Deuteronomy 6:17). Deu. 11:13

Hearkening to Him. Isa. 55:2²Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (Isaiah 55:2).

Striving after perfection. Phi. 3:13, 14.

Cultivating Christian graces. 2 Peter 1:5⁵And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (2 Peter 1:5).

Keeping the soul. Deut. 4:9⁹Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Keeping the heart. Prov. 4:23²³Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23).

Labors of love. Heb. 6:10-12¹⁰For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: ¹²That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:10‑12).

Following every good work. 1 Tim. 5:10¹⁰Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. (1 Timothy 5:10)

Guarding against defilement. Heb. 12:15¹⁵Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:15).

Seeking to be found spotless. 2 Peter 3:14¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:14).

Making our calling, &c., sure. 2 Peter 1:10¹⁰Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (2 Peter 1:10).

Self-examination. Psa. 77:6⁶I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (Psalm 77:6).

Lawful business. Prov. 27:23²³Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. (Proverbs 27:23). Ecc. 9:10.

Teaching religion. 2 Tim. 4:2²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2). Jude 3³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3).

Instructing children. Deut. 6:7⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7). Deut. 11:19¹⁹And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 11:19).

Discharging official duties. Deut. 19:18¹⁸And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; (Deuteronomy 19:18).

Saints should abound in. 2 Cor. 8:7⁷Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. (2 Corinthians 8:7).

IN THE SERVICE OF GOD

Should be persevered in. Gal. 6:9⁹And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9).

Is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Preserves from evil. Ex. 15:26²⁶And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26).

Leads to assured hope. Heb. 6:11¹¹And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (Hebrews 6:11).

God rewards. Deut. 11:14¹⁴That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. (Deuteronomy 11:14). Heb. 11:6⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6).

IN TEMPORAL MATTERS, LEADS TO

Favor. Prov. 11:27²⁷He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. (Proverbs 11:27).

Prosperity. Prov. 10:4⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. (Proverbs 10:4). Prov. 13:4⁴The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (Proverbs 13:4).

Honor. Prov. 12:24²⁴The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. (Proverbs 12:24). Prov. 22:29²⁹Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men. (Proverbs 22:29).

Illustrated. Prov. 6:6-8⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6‑8).

Exemplified. Jacob, Gen. 31:40⁴⁰Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. (Genesis 31:40). Ruth, Ruth 2:17¹⁷So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. (Ruth 2:17). Hezekiah, 2 Chr. 31:21²¹And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (2 Chronicles 31:21). Nehemiah, de. Neh. 4:6⁶So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6).

Psalmist, Psa. 119:60⁶⁰I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. (Psalm 119:60). Apostles, Acts 5:42⁴²And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42). Apollos, Acts 18:25²⁵This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:25). Titus, 2 Cor. 8:22²²And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. (2 Corinthians 8:22). Paul, 1 Thess. 2:9⁹For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1:17¹⁷But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. (2 Timothy 1:17).

Discipline of the Church.

Ministers authorized to establish. Matt. 16:19¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19). Matt. 18:18¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18).

CONSISTS IN

Maintaining sound doctrine. 1 Tim. 1:3³As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, (1 Timothy 1:3). Titus 1:13¹³This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (Titus 1:13).

Ordering its affairs. 1 Cor. 11:34³⁴And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:34). Titus 1:5⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (Titus 1:5).

Rebuking offenders. 1 Tim. 5:20²⁰Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Timothy 5:20). 2 Tim. 4:2²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2).

Removing obstinate offenders. 1 Cor. 5:3-5, 13³For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, ⁴In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁵To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:3‑5)
¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13). 1 Tim. 1:20²⁰Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:20).

Should be submitted to. Heb. 13:17¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17).

Is for edification. 2 Cor. 10:8⁸For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: (2 Corinthians 10:8). 2 Cor. 13:10¹⁰Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. (2 Corinthians 13:10).

Decency and order, the objects of. 1 Cor. 14:40⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Exercise, in a spirit of charity. Cor. 2:6-8.

Prohibits women preaching. 1 Cor. 14:34³⁴Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:34). 1 Tim. 2:12¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:12).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Devil, the.

• Devotedness to God.

• Diet of the Jews, the.

• Diligence.

• Diseases.

• Disobedience to God.

• Doctrines of the Gospel, the.

• Emblems of the Holy Ghost, the.

• Enemies.

• Entertainments.