There are some traits and attitudes in us that are positive and will make anyone do well. These personal traits can be called positive traits. These personal traits must be identified, encouraged and developed in a person so that he can become a good leader. This is good reason enough to cultivate these traits and attitudes. The Bible teaches us that when these positive traits are absent, there is unfruitfulness, barrenness or poverty in that person.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, they make you that YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8
Let us look at the positive traits that are identified in the passage above. The Scripture above shows us that if you have certain “things” in you, you will not be barren, unfruitful or unproductive. The particular positive “things” mentioned are diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly love and charity. These are nine important positive traits associated with success, fruitfulness, productivity and abundance. It is these positive traits in a person’s character that lead to fruitfulness and productivity and make you an exemplary leader. The Bible teaches us that once these positive traits are present there will be no unfruitfulness, barrenness or poverty. A trait is a characteristic that typically belongs to a person.
A trait is therefore associated with you. It is a distinguishing quality of a person. Let us start looking at these positive traits that will help a leader fight unfruitfulness, barrenness and poverty.
DILIGENCE
Diligence is defined as the persistent and relentless effort by an individual to solve a problem, to overcome difficulties and to accomplish great things. Every leader tries to solve certain problems and accomplish some goals. To achieve these objectives, they apply persistence. Diligence is therefore a requisite trait of every leader.
Four Things a Leader Should Know about Diligence
1. Diligence is the personal trait that makes a person a leader. Remember that diligence is persistent and relentless effort by a person to solve a problem and to accomplish great things. A diligent person is not lazy. It is therefore this diligent person who will rule. He will become a leader because of this positive trait. If you are a leader with a deficiency in diligence, train yourself to become diligent. This is the way to be a leader!
The hand of the DILIGENT SHALL BEAR RULE: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 12:24
2. Diligence is the personal trait that makes a person have ideas that lead to abundance and wealth. Most leaders are rich and prosperous because they are ahead of everyone they lead. And usually they are ahead because they spend time thinking about their jobs. This is what leads to innovations and discoveries. While innovations, improvements and discoveries lead to abundance, they are the evidence of someone who is ahead of others. And that is what makes a leader – one who is ahead and followed by others!
The THOUGHTS OF THE DILIGENT TEND ONLY TO PLENTEOUSNESS; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Proverbs 21:5
3. Diligence is the personal trait that leads to promotion. Diligence is the positive trait that leads to promotion. When a man is diligent, he will soon be outstanding; and this will bring the attention of the world to him. Take a look around: diligence is what has made outstanding people gain global attention!
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? HE SHALL STAND BEFORE KINGS; he shall not stand before mean men. Proverbs 22:29
4. Diligence is the personal trait that makes a person rich. Almost every rich person is a diligent person. Diligence is just as important for becoming rich as it is to sustain wealth.
He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of THE DILIGENT MAKETH RICH.
Proverbs 10:4
In history, diligence is what has created wealthy, successful people. A close look at leaders, millionaires and men of abundance will often reveal lots of diligence and hard work. In fact, the story of how many long-standing businesses were established, are classic cases of the importance of diligence.
It is positive traits in someone’s personality that cause him to break out of the unfruitful, unproductive and non-prosperous zones. Barrenness speaks of an arid landscape with very little productivity. The dry and barren fields of one, who is not a good leader, testify of the lack of certain positive traits in that individual. Are you a leader? Do you have these positive traits? May you become a diligent person!
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills