“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. “2 Tim 2:25

You might have heard “Hard work does not kill, work hard”. Hearing the necessary is good, doing the necessary is better. Every one wants to be rich, famous, become popular or be a celebrity . That is the top region, the issue is how do we get there? Let us agree we need to have and climb a ladder. Where is the ladder? The ladder formation and climbing process is what is called - hard work. The mechanism is - work hard.

We are in an age of instant success. Drive through. Fast track. Work smart. I believe in those terminologies, but I’ll like you to know they don’t replace hard work. The brain behind many technological breakthroughs and innovations did not get there by drive though . It took years of toiling . In technology ask Thomas Edison, Alexander Bell, The Wright Brothers. In finance ask the Bill Gates, Warren Buffets, Dangotes, Abiolas. In academia- The Chinua Achebes, The Wole Soyinkas, Albert Istern . Even in the spiritual, starting with biblical characters: the height Jesus attained, Joseph, Jacob, Paul, Peter. Step down to spiritual juggernauts of the past Century- The Likes of Joseph Seymour, John G. Lake, Joseph Ayo Babalola. All these and many more had one common denominator - they worked hard !

What the Holy Spirit is saying today is that we must encourage hard work in our generation.

Hard work in a positive way. Because many work hard but in a negative way. Those who are into cybercrime, kidnapping or armed robbery are working hard, engaging themselves in anti-social and anti-progressive endeavours.

What does hard work entail, Why is Paul telling Timothy to work hard.? A young Mentee of mine is just transitioning from doing ministry from Africa to North America. This is the note I sent to him. “Great . Happy for you. Welcome to the Western world, one more time. Work hard . Don’t be carried away by funfare. Church planting here is real work. Never forget that !”

What are the ingredients of hard work. What did Paul mean by telling Timothy work hard?
1. Identify your goal. What you really want to achieve. You cannot work hard in an abstract phenomenon.
2. Let your goal be to meet human needs. When I am having breakfast in the hotel and see the list of items, honey,tea, coffee, egg, bread, fruits, sugar, table, pots, disposable serving materials, I wonder how one cannot find a human need to meet?
3. Study hard- Hard work starts by acquiring knowledge. Remember to acquire knowledge itself is hard work.
4. Convince yourself you want to do it and that it is doable.
5. Be motivated by previous life achievers particularly when the road gets steeply.
6. Take control. You can help yourself stay focused by keeping in mind that, at the very least, you are in control of your own actions.
7. Surround yourself with other people who are working hard.
8. Avoid distractions. There are two types; cheerers and jeerers. ( My coinage). Use social media to your advantage.
9. Manage your time well .Don’t sleep when you are supposed to be working. Remember- hard work does not kill. Don’t be watching movies when you should be making movies.The difference between the beggar and the genuine billionaire is  time management. Everyone is given 24 hours a day. These could be divided into three 8 hours segments.  We all have 8 hours to go to work or school. 8 hours to sleep. The difference is how you use your last 8 free hours. Solomon said In the morning sow your seed and at evening let your hands not be idle. Eccl . 11:6.
10. Life is too short to be wasted.
11. The result of hard work is always sweet.
12. Be consumed and driven by your “Why”

Conclusion . Paul understood how he got to where he was. Read 2 Cor 11:23-33.The night journeys, the shipwrecks, the beatings, the troubles from false( fake) brethren and gave the golden advice- work had so that you can present yourself to God. Brothers and sisters it is only those who work hard that have something to present to their generation and to God. Enlist in the army today!
Shalom.