Proverbs 22:29 says, "Seesth thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men." Just as diligence brings you before kings and into honour, slothfulness, on the other hand, leads to poverty and self-imposed servitude. Proverbs 22:29 tells us that those who are slothful will stand before "mean men"; that phrase actually means "nobodies."

 

It's puzzling that some people could be described in the scriptures as "nobodies" or obscure and insignificant; people whose words and actions don't count! King Solomon called them vain men, meaning they're empty; their words and actions are worthless. What they say have no value or impact. Now, remember, the value of your personality reflects in your words. Therefore, if a man's words are vain, and without value, what does that tell you? He's obscure, or irrelevant.

 

The Lord Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36). Such people, even though they're of value, devalued themselves by not being diligent. They weren't made nobodies by God, the society, or by other people; they made themselves so.

 

Be diligent in all you do and pay attention to details. God says the diligent person will never be obscure or insignificant. I'm sure that's what you want in your life. You want to be able to change things, and bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. You want to be excellent, effective and sound in your job, and gloriously fulfil your destiny in Christ! Then be diligent. That's the key! Be a man or woman of dignity, integrity and honour.