Diligence in Ministry

The word “diligence” means “having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties”. Some other dictionaries refer to it as “being careful and using a lot of effort” (Cambridge dictionary). Many times, we wrongly assume that being called into the ministry is a guarantee for success. However, this is not completely true. Diligence is important in ministry. It is possible for one to be called into the ministry and still not excel in that which God has called him into. We have as an example in the bible Demas who forsook his apostolic ministry for the love of this world (2 Timothy 4:10), and Paul had to write to Archippus to take heed that he fulfils the call of God in his life (Col 4:17). How then can one be diligent in ministry and what key areas does one need to pay attention to?

When we speak of diligence in ministry, our first thoughts are often focused on what we do externally, but the first place to consider when we speak of diligence is yourself as a minister. A diligent ministry can only be produced by a diligent person. The birth of a diligent ministry lies with a diligent person.  The first place to pay attention to is your spiritual life. The minister of God must ensure that he is diligent about his spiritual life and relationship with God. We must avoid the trap of becoming so busy that we do not pay attention to our walk with God. The Apostles could have fallen into this “busy trap”. However, they avoided this as recorded in Acts 6. When the administrative needs concerning the widows was brought to them, they opted to give attention to the word and prayer while appointing others to address this administrative need. In the ministry, we are time and again faced with this temptation of focusing on strategies, structures and excellence of programs we are organizing without paying attention to our spiritual life. (Acts 6:4). We see how Jesus diligently prioritized his time with the Father throughout his earthly life. He always took time to wait before the father and spend time in fellowship with the father. He was diligent about this (Mathew 13:1). The first area to exercise diligence in the ministry is cultivating a consistent prayer life.

The second area of diligence in ministry is in the study of the word. It is important that the one called into the ministry studies the word diligently, showing care and being conscientious about the study of the word. We have a pattern spelt out in the scriptures as we see Paul instructing Timothy about his approach to the word – study to show thyself approve (2 Timothy 2:25). The impression here is not a casual reading of the word but a proper and diligent study of the word, putting in the effort it demands. There are too many ministers standing on the pulpit proclaiming God’s word who are casual readers of the word and not diligent students of the word. You must aspire to become a diligent student of the word before you become a teacher of the word. Do not be like those Paul described in 1 Timothy 1:7 “wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions”. Do not make confident assertions without proper study.

If you take these two principles to heart you will see your ministry grow to new heights as you pay careful attention to maintaining a constant and consistent walk with God and becoming a diligent and detailed student of the word.