Exposition:

Diligence is defined as a steady, earnest and energetic effort. It is a devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking.

Diligence is careful persistence in work or in an interest. A diligent study means to study carefully and persistently, never straying, not getting distracted or stopping along the way. As a diligent learner, you are active in the learning process, take responsibility for your own learning and are seriously engaged in acquiring knowledge. As a result, you find great joy and satisfaction in learning.

The habit of being diligent as a student can be a herculean task, but developing the habit of diligence can make you bring out the best in you and bring great achievements into your life. In order to be a diligent student, you must keep a planner or a time table and try to stick to it, avoid procrastinations and deal with your distractions.

In today’s reading, Apostle Paul charged Timothy to give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine. This means that Timothy was to be diligent in reading and studying the scriptures so that he might be better qualified to read and expound them in the public assemblies to the Christians and to others who came to these public meetings. Verse 15 says that ‘meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.’ This tells us that if we can make progress and be successful in life, we cannot just do things anyhow; rather, we must commit ourselves to it and be diligent in it.

That way, our progress will be evident by the grace of God. Be a diligent student of the Bible. Take your academic books and other literature seriously so that you can in turn impact others.