The Wisdom of The Children of God is Manifested

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." —Proverbs of Solomon 13:4 [KJV]

In the busy scenes of life, in the awful moments of death, the formal professor, as well as the profligate and profane, will desire to escape misery and woe, and enjoy heaven and happiness. But alas! how vain and fruitless are such desires! If these may be called good desires, 'the way to hell is paved with them,' saith an ancient father of the church. But in this, the wisdom of the children of God is manifested. They are diligent in the use of such means, which, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, will be crowned with a blessed end. They cannot rest in desiring, but in possessing; not in wishing, but enjoying. They find and feel their souls want continual supplies of food from Jesus, support from His promises, nourishment from His word and ordinances, and life from His Spirit. And as their desires are quickened, their diligence is drawn out after these things.

Truth and wisdom declare, they shall not barely be kept from starving; just preserved alive, like Pharaoh's lean kine; but shall be fed and nourished. Yea, like healthy sheep in rich pastures, they shall grow fat. "The soul of the diligent shall be made fat." —Proverbs 13:4. Here is encouragement for thy diligence, here is a spur to thy activity, O disciple. Here is the promise of thy Lord. Where is thy faith? Dost thou perceive thy soul decline, instead of growing fat? Do lusts and corruptions gain ground? Doth the love of the world get the ascendancy of the love of the Father in thy heart? Is the edge of thy spiritual appetite palled? and canst thou not feed nor feast on the rich repast of Jesus' redeeming love as heretofore? wherefore is this? Hast thou not reason to charge thyself with sloth and indolence? Hast thou not been sleeping on thy bed of ease, instead of seeking the food of thy soul? Indulging thy perishing body, when thou mightest have used means for feasting thy immortal spirit? If so, the word of grace, and the testimony of thy conscience, convict thee; this is not right; thou oughtest to take shame to thyself; it is thy duty to humble thyself, and to call upon the Spirit to quicken thee. Though saved in the Lord Jesus with an everlasting salvation, yet thou art called "to give all diligence to make thy calling and election sure." In this way the Lord will nourish souls in love, and make them fat in the consolations of His grace. Consider, all are busy and active around thee—Satan to tempt, the world to ensnare, and thy corruptions within to betray thee. Remember the eyes of thy dear Lord are ever upon thee to see how thou actest thy part. Yea, more, "according to His riches in glory, to strengthen thee with might by His Spirit in the inner man." —Ephesians 3:16.

-William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)