Diligence, Excellence, and Purposeful Labor

TJC
Dec 24, 2025
4 min read

I will work with diligence and excellence. My labor will be honest and its fruits purposeful.

Via The Joshua Commission

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

I will work with diligence and excellence. My labor will be honest and its fruits purposeful.

As Kingdom Men, we are known by our fruit. That fruit certainly includes our words and attitudes, but it is often most clearly displayed through our actions. James captures this plainly: “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” In short, more is caught than taught.

On any given day, most of us spend more time outside our homes than inside them—children at school, adults at work. While the home is foundational, we must not overlook this truth: where we work, where we spend our time is one of our primary mission fields.

Scripture is clear that God cares deeply about how we work. Proverbs reminds us that the Lord detests dishonest scales but delights in integrity and accuracy (Proverbs 11:1). Excellence and honesty are not optional add-ons to faith; they are evidence of it. Our labor—whether public or unseen—is meant to reflect the character of the One we serve.

As Kingdom Men, we are ambassadors. When people see and engage with us, they should encounter the Father’s heart. Consider this: if we borrowed language from 1 Peter 4:10–11 and added it to our year-end performance reviews, what if one question read:

“On a scale of 1–5, based on my occupational performance, are my colleagues more or less likely to trust God?”

That question reframes everything. We should be model employees, leaders, managers, and owners—not to earn God’s favor, but because we already have it. As Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Each night, my wife and I close our family prayers with these words:“Lord, we pray that our home will be peaceful, our days useful, our nights restful, and our work fruitful.”

When she first began praying this, it caused me to pause and reflect on each phrase—especially useful days and fruitful work. It challenged me to ask: How can I more intentionally steward the gifts God has entrusted to me, so that my labor serves others and points the watching world back to Him?

Our work is not separate from our faith. It is one of the primary places where our faith is proven.

Daily Battle Order:

Skills for Purposeful Labor

Pray before you work
Ask God to bless your labor and to give you eyes to see your colleagues as people entrusted to your care.
Honor time
Be on time. Respect deadlines. Treat time—yours and others’—as a stewardship.
Finish what you start
Follow through. Completion is a form of integrity.
Do what you say you will do
Let your word carry weight. Reliability builds trust.
Work with excellence, not entitlement
Serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11).

THE KINGDOM MAN’S CREED

I am a Kingdom Man. I am created by God to bear His image. I am a son and viceroy for my Fathers work. I am a warrior, lover, teacher and king.

I am a Kingdom Man. Like Joshua, I will be strong and courageous. I will train my mind and body for the battles to come. I will discipline my heart, eyes and tongue to be steadfast and faithful to the calling on my life.

I am a Kingdom Man. If a husband, I love and serve my wife, if a father, a loving father to my children. I will love and lead them as Christ loves the Church. If a brother, uncle, guardian, mentor or friend, I will give honor in all of my relationships. I will lead, teach, correct and train in the spirit of righteousness.

I am a Kingdom Man. I am called to break down barriers and free others from strongholds. I am a Peace Maker. My armor is Truth, Righteousness, Grace and Humility. I will stand in the gap for my neighbor to defend gospel justice for the marginalized.

I am a Kingdom Man. God is my provider. He has given me gifts and talents to exemplify Him with the work of my hands. I will work with diligence and excellence. My labor will be honest and its fruits purposeful.

I am a Kingdom Man with a Kingdom vision. Commissioned by Christ. My life is the Father’s. I am intentional. I will grow in my faith, be consistent in my actions and leave a legacy worthy of the race I have run.

I AM a Kingdom Man!