Diligence is earnest, persistent, steady effort with full concentration and carefulness. Thus, it is in total opposition to mankind’s and society’s goal to make everything as effortless as possible.
As we revisit the text of Matthew 7:14 we find Jesus giving illustrative instruction concerning the way to life. He uses for concrete example the city gates of Jerusalem. The gates were varied in name, size and location.
Jerusalem was the site of many pilgrimages and was under Roman occupation at the time. Hence, there were always many people from many different places, in the city, coming and going at all times. As the throngs entered the city they would simply flow toward and through the easiest point of egress which would be one of the wider gates.
Unless some state of alert had been declared, one would simply “go with the flow” of the crowd and gain entrance to the city. Thieves, robbers, murderers and more were able to melt and blend into the crowd by using the wide gate. No effort or aforethought was needed; hence, no diligence.
The narrow gates however, took some effort to go through in that many people were trying to get through a small space at the same time. The word strait in Matthew 7:14 is the Greek word stenos and means “narrow” and comes from a root word meaning to crowd.
“Strait is the gate and narrow is the way” literally means that the way to life is not as easily entered as the way that leads to death and hell. Diligence must be given and is needed to “find the way and walk therein.”
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
It would seem right to find the easiest route, the most popular route, the one that required the least effort the one that required the least change. Nevertheless, that route, the one which requires little or no diligence at all leads to death.
Diligence is needed in everything that pertains to God and godliness. Diligence is needed in marriages and relationships of value. Diligence is needed in parenting and education. Diligence is needed in business and in everything that we do that is worthwhile and valuable to us. Diligence is needed. When there is no diligence there is no life, there is only death.
The definition of death is separation. When there is no diligence, divorce ensues both spiritually and naturally. Hence, in a world which strives to make all things effortless, concentrated effort must be made. Diligence is needed. Stay on the path . . . . . .
About Contributing Writer: Copyright©2010 Anya M. Hall – Dr. Anya M. Hall is an anointed vessel of the Lord used as an Apostle, Teacher and Bishop in the Body of Christ teach, train, raise up and send forth strong leaders. She is the Founder of TeKton Ministries Int’l and STRATEGOS Kingdom Academy. For more information or to contact her go to: www.tektonministries.com or call 1-866-95-SHIFT or email: apostle@tektonministries.com .
