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Sermon: Assiduity - 2019
by Chris Cumming
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The name of the sermon today is, “Assiduity.” Did any of you look up
the meaning of this word to ascertain what we might be speaking about
today?
The word means:
1. Persistent application or diligence; unflagging effort.
2. Constant personal attention.
3. Devoted attention.
4. Constant and close application.
One wise person was quoted as saying the following:
“Assiduity, it means sit down until you do it. Commit yourself to your
work and study.
Clearly if one is to be persistent in application or diligence and
invoke constant and close application, he or she must be committed. I
found this word, “assiduity” intriguing and wondered if there was a
related Bible verse. Turn to Proverbs 16.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
I immediately had a number of questions about this verse. Clearly it is
speaking to individuals in the Salvation Process.
1] What does, “commit” mean in this verse?
2] What work is a firstfruit to commit to God?
3] How do I commit anything to God?
4] What does the verse mean, “my thoughts shall be established”? What
thoughts?
5] Is this verse just talking about spiritual things or is there more to
what is being said?
Today we are going to answer all of these questions and a whole lot more
as I encourage all of us to commit to God.
Commit to Almighty God.
What we are going to discover today is that Proverbs 16:3 and its
related verses are speaking to a specific procedure you are to apply to
every aspect of your lives. This procedure will dictate to you just how
to deal with all trials and tribulations. Virtually every situation in
your life can have a happy and joyous outcome if you invoke this
commitment procedure.
Let us begin by getting into Proverbs 16:3. “Commit thy works unto the
LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”
The way I initially took this verse was to do my works as if to God and
that in return, He would keep me thinking correctly—in line with His
ways and His Law. As we are about to see, much more is being said.
I went to some commentaries to get the meaning of what is being said to
us.
Commit - literally, as in the margin, as
a man transfers a burden from his own back to one stronger and better
able to bear it.
Thy thoughts - i. e., The plans or
counsels out of which the works spring.
~Barnes Notes
Commit - Roll the burden of thy care upon
God, and leave it with him, by faith and dependence on him.
~Matthew Henry
Commit thy works unto the Lord - Refer
all thy actions and concerns to God, as the end of them, and depend upon
God's providence for success.
Thy thoughts shall be established - Thy
designs shall be brought to an happy issue.
~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
Here is what we just read: Leaving aside for a moment the trials and
tribulations we all experience, the life of firstfruits is full of
cares. We have concerns physically, mentally, emotionally as well as
spiritually. All of our day-to-day concerns involve circumstances,
situations, decision-making and problem solving. God is admonishing us
to “roll” all these burdens into His care. The word, “commit” is
Strong’s word 1556, gaw-lal and is rendered—commit, roll together, seek
occasion and trust. It is God’s desire that you seek occasions to roll
all your burdens over to Him.
The Matthew Henry gives the means… “do this by faith and dependence on
Him.” The John Wesley said, “Refer all your actions and
concerns to God.” This is not just a mental exercise but an
all-encompassing procedure.
The second part of the scripture speaks to our thoughts being
established. Why do our thoughts need to be established? The answer is
in the previous verse.
Proverbs 16:2
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth
the spirits. Notice other scriptures confirming this verse:
Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways of death.
Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD
pondereth the hearts.
It is natural in man, even a firstfruit man [men
and women] to think with their own
brain, using their own thought processes. Have you ever done that? I
know I have. Have you ever had a decision not work out or even worse,
compound the situation? I have scores of times.
The John Wesley states that established thoughts lead to happy results.
How does this happen? The Barnes Notes commentary gives the meaning of
the phrase as, “The plans or counsels out of which the works
spring.”
Herein lies the key to the whole procedure. Once again, this is a
learned process. Firstfruits constantly are improving in every
process.
Here is how the process works:
You are already a firstfruit in the Salvation Process. You are already
immersed in the Word of God.
1] Increase the number times a day or week in which you refer your
actions and concerns over to God. You must develop into an individual
who has reflexive action [kneejerk
reaction] to rolling over [committing]
all actions or concerns to God.
2] Allow the experience to establish your thoughts for the next action
or concern. When you see God taking action in the situation, coupled
with your diligent immersion in the Word of God, your thoughts are
established for the next situation.
The more your thoughts become established, the more you will commit your
actions to God. What did the commentary say? It said that your
continued actions will spring from the established thought process. You
are no longer a victim of Proverbs 16:2 and 25 or Proverbs 21:2 [thinking
for yourself]. You are no longer using just your thought
processes and devices. You are now a new creature. You now have the
Holy Spirit within you, the Word of God established in your mind and a
procedure that God promises will work according to His will in each
situation.
Your actions and concerns given over to God establish your thoughts by
your faith and total dependence on God. Then your thoughts invoke your
next instance of giving the situation, action and concern over to God.
Each part of Proverbs 16:3 drives the other. It is a perfect cycle or
procedure.
Interestingly the natural mind of man fights for independence and
self-sufficiency. The natural mind does not enjoy being dependent.
This is at the basis of the miracle plan of God. He is busy, everyday
on this Earth, transforming the minds and character of firstfruits into
being absolutely dependent on Him regarding every action and every
concern we have.
Let us look at some scriptures that speak to the first part of Proverbs
16:3 and referring your actions and concerns to God.
Job 5:8
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Commentary:
And unto God would I commit my cause - or
"direct my word or speech" to him; that is, in prayer, as Sephorno adds;
I would, as if he should say, make known my case to him, tell him the
whole of it, and pour out my soul before him; and then I would leave it
with him, and not wrangle, quarrel, and contend with him, but say, "here
am I, let him do what seemeth good unto him": some render the words,
"truly", or "indeed I shall discourse concerning God, and order my
speech about Deity"; I shall no longer insist on this subject, but drop
it, and hereafter treat of God, his nature, being, and perfections, and
particularly his works; though these are rather observed in the
following verses, as so many arguments to engage Job to seek the Lord,
and leave his case and cause to him.
~John Gill
Psalm 55:22-23
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall
never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction:
bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will
trust in thee.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall
put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not
much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the
field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.
Luke 12:22
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no
thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye
shall put on.
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 Peter 5:6-9
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions
are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
I am now going to read to you Psalm 37. As I do, look for the multiple
instances of this procedure at work. Notice the admonitions to commit
or roll over your cares to Him. Then notice the promises of the
outcome. Make note of the admonitions to give up the thought processes
that lead to negative results. Praise God as you see Him making
promises to you on being delivered from trials, tribulations and evil.
Psalm 37:3-40
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and
verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires
of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it
to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy
judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because
of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked
devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to
do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt
diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in
the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his
teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast
down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be
broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many
wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth
the righteous.
18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall
be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine
they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as
the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume
away.
21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth
mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that
be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in
his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD
upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous
forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are
preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of
judgment.
31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is
judged.
34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to
inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a
green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he
could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man
is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the
wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their
strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them
from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
I now want to discuss the second part of Proverbs 16:3 ..."and thy
thoughts shall be established." Turn to Job 22. As you invoke this
procedure to roll your actions and care upon the Lord, you find yourself
in distance to evil and iniquity. The sin process is pushed away. Take
notice of the promises here.
Job 22:21-28
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall
come unto thee.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in
thine heart.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt
put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the
stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of
silver.
26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift
up thy face unto God.
27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou
shalt pay thy vows.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto
thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
In verse 27 it says, "Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him." Every time
you roll over an action or concern over to God, you do so in prayer.
Every contact with God is a prayer. Notice a related verse.
Psalm 143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I
trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my
soul unto thee.
Read a number of commentaries and it puts the meaning of the phrase,
"cause me to know the way wherein I should walk" as speaking to a path
to escape enemies but the concept clearly applies to most all
situations; we want to know what path to take physically, mentally,
emotionally and spiritually. Notice now the John Gill on this phrase:
cause me to know the way wherein I should walk
- either literally, which way he should take to escape his enemies, and
get out of danger; or the way and course of his life and conversation
[conduct], according to the will of God; the way or truth, and path of
faith; the way of righteousness and holiness, the way of God's
commandments and ordinances; which he desired to have a more distinct
knowledge of, and grace to enable him to walk therein.
~John Gill
Here are some related verses:
Psalm 143:10
...just two verses down the page
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead
me into the land of uprightness.
Psalm 25:4-5
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my
salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Psalm 27:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path,
because of mine enemies.
Psalm 32:7-8
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from
trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I
will guide thee with mine eye.
Proverbs 3:4-7
4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the
sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Isaiah 49:10
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite
them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the
springs of water shall he guide them.
Opportunities to Commit
Physically:
---food, shelter, clothing, transportation.
---which way should I go?
---all decision making.
---all physical trials.
---all health related situations.
---all educational situations.
---all financial situations. Stewardship, savings, tithing, budgets.
---all purchasing situations. Lead me to the best values and savings.
---all projects
Mentally:
---memory. Where is that item? What is the name I am trying to
remember?
---learning.
---knowledge.
---intelligence.
---enemies.
Emotionally:
---relationships.
---moods.
---disorders.
---enemies.
Spiritually:
---knowledge, understanding.
---wisdom.
---processes
---trials and tribulations.
---prayer, Bible study, fasting.
So now you have the procedure and the areas to use this procedure.
Remember that it will take Assiduity on your part to make this procedure
work.
This means:
1. Persistent application or diligence; unflagging effort.
2. Constant personal attention.
3. Devoted attention.
4. Constant and close application.
So go now and continue in committing your works unto the Lord.
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