Throughout the ages, the deep, innermost desire of mankind has remained unchanged. Man wants to obtain the success that will create within him a lasting satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment.
When God first created mankind, He gave them an assignment, the fulfilling of which would keep them in a place of continual satisfaction and fellowship with his Creator. The assignment: subdue the earth and have dominion over it (see Genesis 1:28).
When Adam chose not to fulfill the task which God had given him, he severed the close, intimate relationship with God he had previously enjoyed.
The inherent desire within mankind, however, continued. They still wanted to achieve and attain an objective. But now there were new objectives—objectives not originating from the heart of God. Since those new goals were not governed by God, they became self-centered and self-serving.
There is no lasting satisfaction in accomplishing anything outside of the activities and ideas inspired by God. The only means of accomplishing the desires and goals most important in human life is through re-establishing the relationship which God originally designed.
The person who is diligent in the kingdom of God will see with increasing clarity the goals that God has designed for him. In order to bring those goals into reality, they must become vivid, he must continue to seek God, and continue to live by His standard.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
Those who are diligent in the Word of God will receive God’s rewards. But we must realize that diligence is an inward quality. It cannot be measured by outward “busyness.” Luke 10:38-42 makes clear this important distinction:
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’
“And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her'” (NJKV).
Here we find Martha occupied with the business of serving Jesus and His disciples. But her “busyness” had distracted her from the truly important thing—hearing what Jesus was saying.
Both Martha and Mary made a choice. But Mary had determined to hear God’s Word even though there was much work to be done. Jesus said it was the one thing that was needed.
Who was the diligent person? Obviously, it was Mary because she was diligent in seeking God’s Word. And Jesus commended her for it. Martha, on the other hand, allowed the demands of serving to distract her from her hunger to know God more intimately.
We must be diligent to keep first things first. Make a new commitment to give God’s Word first place where it belongs.
