Topical Bible: Diligence: Making Our Calling Sure

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Diligence, in the context of Christian theology, is a steadfast and earnest effort to fulfill one's duties and responsibilities in accordance with God's will. It is a virtue that is highly esteemed in the Bible, often associated with perseverance, faithfulness, and a commitment to spiritual growth. The concept of diligence is intricately linked to the assurance of one's calling and election, as highlighted in 2 Peter 1:10 : "Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things, you will never stumble."

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of diligence in the life of a believer. Proverbs 12:24 states, "The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor." This proverb underscores the principle that diligence leads to success and authority, while laziness results in subjugation and hardship. Similarly, Proverbs 13:4 contrasts the outcomes of diligence and sloth: "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied."

In the New Testament, diligence is presented as a key component of spiritual maturity and effectiveness. Hebrews 6:11-12 encourages believers to "show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Here, diligence is linked to the assurance of hope and the inheritance of God's promises, suggesting that it is essential for maintaining a vibrant and fruitful faith.

Diligence in Spiritual Growth

Diligence is not merely about hard work; it is about a focused and intentional pursuit of spiritual growth and holiness. The Apostle Peter provides a framework for this in 2 Peter 1:5-7 : "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." This passage outlines a progression of virtues that believers are to diligently cultivate, each building upon the other, leading to a mature and effective Christian life.

The Apostle Paul also speaks to the necessity of diligence in the pursuit of spiritual goals. In Philippians 3:13-14 , he writes, "Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus." Paul's metaphor of pressing on toward a goal illustrates the diligent effort required to achieve the fullness of God's calling.

Diligence and Assurance of Salvation

The relationship between diligence and the assurance of salvation is a significant theme in the New Testament. As previously mentioned, 2 Peter 1:10 exhorts believers to "strive to make your calling and election sure." This striving is not about earning salvation through works but about confirming one's calling through a life that reflects the transformative power of the Gospel. The diligent pursuit of godliness and virtue serves as evidence of genuine faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life.

Moreover, the assurance of salvation is bolstered by the fruit that diligence produces. Galatians 6:9 encourages believers, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." The promise of a harvest is contingent upon perseverance and diligence in doing good, reinforcing the idea that a diligent life is a fruitful and assured life.

Practical Application

In practical terms, diligence involves a disciplined approach to spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and service. It requires setting priorities that align with God's purposes and being intentional about personal and communal spiritual growth. Diligence also means being vigilant against complacency and spiritual stagnation, continually seeking to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The call to diligence is a call to active participation in the divine nature, as Peter describes in 2 Peter 1:4 , "Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." By diligently pursuing the virtues and promises of God, believers can experience the fullness of their calling and the assurance of their election.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Peter 1:10
Why the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning God's Purpose
... By being effectually called. "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure"
(2 Peter 1:10).We make our election sure, by making our calling sure. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/concerning gods purpose.htm

Prayer and Faith
... is a Divine order, of which Peter was aware; and so he goes on to declare that we
are to give diligence to making our calling and election sure, which election ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/i prayer and faith.htm

Andover Orthodox Creed.
... in holiness is the only method of making our calling and election sure, and that ...
their hearts, necessarily implies their own watchful diligence; that they ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/andover orthodox creed.htm

The Prudent Steward.
... In this lesson the diligence of worldly men is employed to rebuke the ... the time and
the opportunities that remain in making our calling and election sure? ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxv the prudent steward.htm

V. ...
... thereunto called, we should apply so much diligence (says Peter ... they have not the
gift of making known things to ... for as we, through the faith of our Master, are ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter i v 2.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... measure, numbering the hairs of their head, making a hedge ... which he has received,
he uses all diligence, either to ... it is one of the seals of our calling; it is ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 23 upon our lords.htm

"But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and ...
... our hearts, that there is a necessity of making Christianity our ... It will take our
whole man, our whole time, not ... If ye give not all diligence to add to your ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xvii but seek ye.htm

The Rewards of the Trading Servants
... enduring monument"is this process of making character, and ... ranked according to the
faithfulness of our service and ... Wherefore, giving all diligence, make your ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the rewards of the trading.htm

The General Resurrection
... the administration and guardianship of our laws are entrusted, are making their
entrance ... Should we not give all diligence to make our calling and election ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlii the general resurrection.htm

Thoughts Upon Our Call and Election.
... only of God's Voice to Mankind, making known his ... Whereas our Saviour himself tells
us, in plain terms ... it should rather excite us to greater Diligence about it ...
/.../beveridge/private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon our call and.htm