Game Changers: Diligence

This is part 4 of our Game Changers series:

Part 1: "Purity"

Part 2: "Patience"

Part 3: "Self-Control"

What is a game changer? A game changer is an athlete or play that suddenly changes the outcome of a game or contest, or a person or thing that dramatically changes the course, strategy, character, etc., of something. Spiritually, diligence is a game changer — because it is a defining character trait of the godly individual.

It is also a defining character trait of an ant (Prov. 6:6-8). In v. 6, God is addressing the sluggard — the lazy, careless, good-for-nothing loafer. The ant and the sluggard are polar opposites. Ants are not lazy. Ants are diligent. Our God can take even a tiny creature like the ant and teach us lessons about living and working.

Let’s look at three:

Partnership: The ant colony is a community. They live together as a family and work together as a team to get done what needs to be done. There is solidarity. We, too, are a community of God’s people. Therefore, we must work together in love (Heb. 13:1), help one another (Gal. 6:2), share with one another (Eph. 4:28) and strive for peace (Eph. 4:3; Ps. 133:1).

Production: Ants have no guide, overseer or captain, yet each ant works — with a purpose. Diligent living is purposeful living. Every one of them pulls their own weight. They labor according to their own ability. In the church, each member has been gifted and equipped by God (I Cor. 12:12-27). Each of us has a job in the kingdom of God, but no one is more important than the next person. The work of the Lord is much bigger than one person.

Preparation: Ants don’t know the meaning of procrastination. They don’t wait until the weather turns cold before they begin preparing. We prepare in this life — savings account, insurance, retirement funds. We plan for life here, but what about death? Diligence begins with the end in mind. A diligent person organizes and plans in such a way to achieve a desired result. And in the case of a Christian, the desired result is heaven.

Emulate the actions of an ant — do it, and do it now, while you have the time. In fact, give it your “all” (II Pet. 1:5-8).