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A farmer who doesn’t work doesn’t eat.Crops don’t raise themselves.The farmer who wants produce at harvest must work the whole season.He may try to buck the system. He may try to cheat the system. He may try to beat thesystem. Ultimately, though, he cannot. He cannot break the natural laws that Godestablished; he can only break himself against those laws.“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sowsbountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, NASB)DiligenceDiligence is a defining character trait of the godly individual.Scripture bears this out in multiple passages:• “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah29:13, NASB)• “...He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV)• “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents,saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with afew things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of yourmaster.’” (Matthew 25:20-21, NASB)• “All hard work brings a profit...” (Proverbs 14:23, NIV)Given God’s preference for diligence, He shows little sympathy for the person whochooses laziness:“...if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10,NASB) Characteristics of True DiligenceTrue diligence can be recognized by several characteristics:It results from internal motivation. The diligent person needs no goading orprodding to start what needs to be started. Neither does he need constant supervisionnor chaperoning to ensure that he finishes what needs to be finished.“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officeror ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in theharvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB)It begins with the end in mind. The diligent person does not expend efforthaphazardly. Instead, he organizes, plans, and maps out his work in such a way that hewill achieve his desired results. He realizes that particular results require particularefforts.“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officeror ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in theharvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB)The winter stockpile only materializes if the ant plans ahead and starts collecting in thesummer and fall. No forethought, no food in the winter.It is productive, not simply busy. The diligent person recognizes that not all busynessis business. He thus chooses only to engage in productive effort.“For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work atall, but acting like busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11, NASB)It’s possible to be busy without accomplishing anything productive. Not all effort iscreated equal. Wheels can spin both in the sand and on the road, but only one of thoseresults in forward progress.It is ultimately focused on more than self-satisfaction. Diligence brings greatreward to the one exerting the effort:• “...the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4, NASB)• “...the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Proverbs 13:4, NKJV)• “He who tills his land will have plenty of food...” (Proverbs 28:19, NASB)• “In all labor there is profit...” (Proverbs 14:23, NASB) In the end, though, diligence sees a higher purpose:“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his ownhands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who hasneed.” (Ephesians 4:28, NASB)The Underlying MotivationUnderneath it all, the motivation that ought to drive us to be people of diligence is thatwe work for our Creator.“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowingthat from the Lord you will receive the reward of