I liked today’s study – it’s a subject close to my heart because I know a few, very obstinate people .

Selwyn alerts us to the fact that we must understand the difference between diligence and obstinacy. He says: “Diligence is dogged perseverance; obstinacy is dogged inflexibility and self-will. … Saying ‘yes’ to God’s will and pursuing it is diligence. Saying ‘yes’ to a thing that is not God’s will and pursuing that, is obstinacy.”

My Macquarie dictionary, states: ‘obstinate: 1. firmly and often perversely adhering to one’s purpose, opinion etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty. …’

In undertaking God’s work we must consistently ask (in prayer) for God’s guidance and be open to His directions. If we do happen to make a wrong turn, we can trust in His love, for Him to guide us back to the right path. He may use a number of devices to alert us of our error: spiritual mentors, bible study groups family or friends One way or another He will get our attention – however, if we are obstinate or stubborn like a donkey, it is because we have placed too high a reliance on our own abilities to discern what we should be doing and we will close our ears to God’s message. When we are obstinate – pride, has forced out the humility we require to be able to clearly hear God’s Word!

The prayer for today is worth our consideration: “Father, help me differentiate between diligence and obstinacy so that at the end of my time here on earth I, too, will be able to say, ‘I have finished the work which You have given me to do.’ Amen.”

Selwyn continues his discussion on diligence - and uses this following example from John’s gospel to illustrate Jesus’ determination to persevere and complete His mission. I like these verses because they do highlight how focused Jesus was on making every ‘waking hour’ count!

John 11:7-9 (NLT): ” … (Jesus) said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” … “

I think it’s important to understand that we have limited time to undertake the mission(s) God has allocated to each one of us. There are only twelve hours of available daylight and we should make every effort to fully employ this time, while we can! 

As Selwyn mentions in his conclusion; we can ‘reach up and put our hand in the hand of Jesus. We can talk to Him and draw from Him the strength we need.’ He will respond to our requests for help – because He, Himself, was once in the same position. Do you agree?

Selwyn now moves that onto the ‘fifth of his seven pillars of wisdom – diligence’.

He starts his study by saying: ‘The wise are those who persevere, who persist in following what is right, who stick with it  and never give up.”

And, it’s hard, not be impressed with his conclusion: ” … if it had not been for the diligence I learned at the feet of Christ I would not have been able to write Every Day with Jesus for over 40 years. I learned diligence from the One whose life and character were the very epitome of this quality – Jesus. He is diligence personified.”

I think diligence has a lot to do with our realisation that the harvest is great and the workers are few. We have a very, limited time to serve God – therefore we should extract the most out of every moment, that God graciously gives us – do you agree?

Verses for reading and meditation (Proverbs 13:1-10, NLT):

“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

A man’s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Today, Selwyn presents his next four suggestions on how to build a framework for generosity.

“Fourth suggestion: give at least a tenth of your earnings to God’s work.” As Selwyn says – this suggestion may sound legalistic to some; but in reality, it is good self-discipline to give an agreed amount to God, out of our income. The people I know, who do this, always appear to make ends meet and don’t have chronic problems in meeting their financial commitments.

“Fifth suggestion: make your will under God’s direction and maintain a balance between responsibility for your family and the continuing work of God. … (Must admit – not high up on my list of priorities – perhaps, reflects that there may not be a lot to leave to relatives; but more importantly, I trust that my wife will continue my work under the direction of God’s Spirit, after I’ve gone.)

Sixth suggestion: remember that the principle of generosity applies not only to your treasure but also to your talents and your time. Each day ask God to show you ways of using your talents and time for Him. …(This is an area where most of us can be generous – there are many lonely people, especially in aged-care facilities, who would welcome a few minutes of companionship.)

Seventh: accept the smallest opportunity to be generous as a training ground for faithfulness. … Don’t wait for the big opportunities to be generous but start with the next opportunity that comes your way – no matter how small it may be.” (If you are developing a generous nature with God’s help, it’s only natural to try to be generous – at all times – in all ways. I would question a person’s motive if they were only generous, at those times, when they considered the opportunity to be ‘big and important’.)

What did you think of these four suggestions?

Selwyn now discusses a framework for generosity: “First, decide that nothing you possess is your own but that everything you have belongs to God. … You get your life orders not from a whim, a notion, self-impulse or whatever takes your fancy, but from the One who saved you and redeemed you.

Second, go over your life and see what can be classed as your needs and what merely constitutes your wants. … Third, fix it as an axiom in your mind that you will be generous to people, not for the good feelings that generosity brings, but because you are determined to bless them in some way. … “

(I think the first suggestion, highlighted above – is the main pillar supporting his framework – without it, the rest will eventually fail. Tomorrow, Selwyn will discuss another four suggestions.)

The most important point I can make; is that none of these suggestions will do anything, unless accompanied by consistent and persevering prayer. To implement many of these suggestions will require a change of heart in the majority of people - this change of heart can only occur when you allow God’s Spirit into your heart and allow Him to change you into the generous person He designed you to be. What do you think?

I rarely disagree with Selwyn, but in this case his conclusion may mislead some readers (in my view).

He says: “I have no doubt that today, and certainly in the immediate future, we will come across opportunities to be generous. If we fail to respond to these opportunities, who knows what rivers will never flow, what great ministries will never be initiated, what mighty things will not get done? … ”

I agree that we will be presented with opportunities to demonstrate our love for our travelling companions while we walk along the path of life, following Jesus. Yet, it’s our loss if we don’t take up these opportunities to do God’s work. His plans will be completed, it just means, that the task offered to us will be given to someone else to complete. Note the words in the following verses from Chapter 55, of the book of Isaiah – His word – WILL NOT return to Him empty – what He desires, will be achieved.

Isaiah 55:10-11 “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,  but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Consequently, if God desires a ‘great ministry to be initiated’, it will be achieved – it just means, that we missed an opportunity to be personally involved in its initiation! What do you think?

I liked today’s introduction: “Wecontinue mediating on the subject of generosity. Not only the book of Proverbs but the whole Bible has a great deal to say on this subject. Jesus made a powerful statement, recorded in Matthew 6:22, which in the Moffatt translation reads: ‘ … if your Eye is generous, the whole of your body will be illuminated.’ These words indicate that if your whole outlook on life, your whole way of looking at things, is generous then your whole personality is filled with light.”

Our generosity towards others, for Christians, is a true measure of our love for our ‘neighbours’! Do you agree?