As we discussed on Friday, without submitting to His Word and working hard with enthusiasm, we aren’t honoring God, reflecting His glory or pointing others to Him. Living a life without diligence, hard work, or intentionally submitting to God’s Word carries with it significant problems. “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.” (Prov 25:28)

Working hard and living on purpose flows from the life of a person who has control over his spirit. This person is not just blown along through life like a leaf in our backyard on fall afternoon. He lives every day connected to living in God’s Spirit. It’s no coincidence that the list of fruit of the Spirit in Galations 5:22-23 includes self-control. Laziness is born out of living in our flesh, but diligence comes from a life lived in submission to the Holy Spirit of God.

When we choose to live in our flesh without any sense of submission to God’s control over our lives we are like a “city that is broken into”, which is a picture of a city wall that has been breached by the enemy. We have a strong enemy who seeks daily to wreck our lives (1 Pet 5:8). Satan works constantly to breach the walls of our life and bring destruction. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

God calls us to diligence and purposeful obedience. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) When we choose the path of diligence, we find that the walls of protection around our lives are strong, and the blessings we experience are numerous. God calls us to work hard, be enthusiastic in all things, and live daily under the control of God’s Spirit in our hearts. This commitment will bring about daily spiritual victory in our lives and be a visible witness to the world of the power of the gospel in our lives. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Gal 5:16)