CGMI ADULT SUNDAY MANUAL – Topic: PROSPERITY: THE PLACE OF DILIGENCE – Church of God Mission International – SUNDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2022
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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY MANUAL
SUNDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2022
HYMN:
S,S & S 607 “I Thine O Lord”
TOPIC:
“PROSPERITY: THE PLACE OF DILIGENCE”
TEXT:
Gen 2:15; 2Thess 3:6-15; Phil 3:12-15; Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:22-25
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
The hand of the diligent creates wealth
INTRODUCTION:
In contemporary times, there are some Christians that give the impression that work is a curse, an outcome of the fall of man and we must live by “favour” and should never “labour” or should do sparingly. The impression is given that there are levels of grace to be attained that one does not need to do any work. They hide under the supposed cover of grace to justify laziness and slothfulness and become a burden on other believers. Adam had no clue how the garden came about, he was placed there by “favour” but was commanded to “labour” and bear fruit in it. It is instructive that this was God’s model in the beginning before sin came into the picture with the fall of man. Fruitfulness requires diligence in all we do.
In this study, we will look closely at the scriptural principles that govern the place of diligence in prosperity, in life and ministry.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson are to:
- Understand what it means to be diligent
- Appreciate what the driving force for diligence in the life of the believer should be
- Understand the earthly and eternal consequences of slothfulness and
- Highlights the earthly and eternal rewards for diligence
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE DILIGENT ?
Different dictionaries define diligence as “Having or showing care and consciousness in one’s work and duties” and “to take delight in whatever one does”. A diligent person demonstrates “steady, earnest and energetic effort” in whatever he/she does. There are many attributes that contribute to success in whatever endeavour we are involved in and these include:
(I). having a clear vision of what needs to be done,
(II). beign highly motivated to pursue the task usually due to the importance one attaches to it or the benefits likely to accrue, and
(III). diligence or the discipline to persist in putting in necessary effort daily no matter the prevailing conditions until the goal is achieved, among others.
By far, self discipline to persist in putting in the needed hard work or effort over time, which reflects diligence, is the most important
QUESTION 2
WHAT SHOULD OUR ATTITUDE BE TOWARDS WHATEVER WORK OUR HANDS FIND TO DO ? (Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-24; Eccl 9:10)
Although, Apostle Paul was addressing the Ephesian and the Colossian slaves who had become Christians, the principles e enunciated apply to every believer. He enjoined them “….to work at whatever they do with all their hearts as working for the Lord not for men…” since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving”. Apparently, the slaves had masters who they worked for. But Paul unveils a divine principle and expectation that should govern all that we do. He demonstrates that whatever our status, whether slaves, at the lowest end of the ladder or masters at the upper end, if we are born again, the Lord expects us to serve Him with whatever we do. It is not therefore what we do that matters but how we do it and who we seek primarily to please as we do our work.
The implication is that if we do our work on earth heartily and bring glory to the Lord in how we do our work, He will grants us eternal rewards. This is applicable to both masters and servants. We will not only get eternal rewards from doing “spiritual work” such as teaching or preaching. We will get rewarded for whatever endeavours we are involved in if we do it to please the Lord whether the effort is in mundane daily routine or in core areas of ministry. What should drive us to be diligent is not just the desire for gain but because we want to please the Lord and receive external rewards from Him.
Also Read:Open Heaven 19 November 2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – WONDERFUL GOD II
QUESTION 3
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS IN NOT BEIGN DILIGENT ? (Prov 10:4; 12:24; 22:5; Dan 6:1-5; Matt 25:14-30)
The antonyms of being diligent include to be careless, to be disinterested, to be idle, ignorant, inactive, inattentive, neglectful and thoughtless. The scriptures teach that laziness leads to hunger, slave labour and poverty. When there is no deliberate effort aimed at success, poverty is inevitable. Since the sluggard does not plough in season, he reaps the wind during the harvest season.
The class should compare and contrast the characteristics and outcome of the lives of a diligent man and one that is slothful in business.
QUESTION 4.
WHAT ARE THE REWARDS OF DILIGENCE ? (Prov 10:4; 12:24; 22:5; Dan 6:1-5; Matt 25:14-30)
The scriptures above clearly state that “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands make wealth.”, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.”, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit..”. While much of the world system is driven by tribalism, nepotism and other forms of corruption, there is still a lot of room for progress and elevation based on merit. In the midst of so much rottenness, the only option open to the believer is to fear God and excel in whatever he/she does and wait on the Lord to elevate him. This was the experience of Daniel, and is expected of us too. In his life, diligence coexist with other virtues as he was exceptional, trustworthy and neither corrupt not negligent. On this earth, diligence will take us to the top, stands us out among our peers, make us greatly demanded and bring us wealth beyond our imaginations.
The parable of the talents is one of the scariest for the sincere believer. What the parable teaches is that there will be a time of accounting when the Lord returns. It warns us that the endowment were not given to make us special but for fruit bearing and that we will be rewarded by the Lord according to how productive we have been, which requires diligence.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
We are called to present ourselves a living sacrifice, and acceptable to Him which is all the Lord requires of us (Rom 12:1-3). This entails pleasing Him with all we are and do. The Lord expects us to do all our hands find to do heartily in a way that pleases Him. Diligence will help us bring glory to the Lord as men acknowledge the grace of God upon our lives and our fruits speak for us. As we have seen, diligence holds promise both in this world and eternity. Therefore, we should not be slothful in business but should be diligent in all that we do, serving the Lord.
MEMORY VERSE
Colossians 3:23 KJV “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”
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