LET all who would run the race successfully look well to their zeal and activity in Jehovah's work. If we bury our one or many talents under a weight of worldly cares and encumbrances which might be avoided or set aside; if we bury them under worldly ambitions for either self or family -- whether this be by wasting consecrated time upon science, philosophy, music or art, or upon business, politics or pleasures, or in pampering pride and appetite -- then as unfaithful servants we will sooner or later go into outer darkness. -- Based on excerpt from "Thoughts for the New Year", ZWT, January 1891. R1282:5
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The Greek word rendered as "lagging" above is a form of the word often transliterated as "oknéros" (Strong's #3636). Its basic meaning appears to be to delay. However, in usage it appears to carry the meanings of slothfulness, as in delaying doing what one has been ordered to do, or what one knows he should be doing. Barnes tells us that it "refers to those who are slow, idle, destitute of promptness of mind and activity; compare Matthew 25:16." As used by the apostle Paul in Romans 12:11, however, it is being used to refer to a child of God who is slow or lacking in full obedience to God and Jesus in performing what he knows he should be doing.
The Greek word rendered as "diligence" is a form of the word often transliterated as "spoudé" (Strong's #4710). This word carries the basic meaning of "haste", and evidently Paul uses this word and antonym of the Greek word "oknéros". In usage the word "spoudé" is used to express diligence or passion. Indeed, most translations render "spoudé" in Romans 12:8 with some form of diligence or passion.
Paul, however, is showing that the child of God can be slow, hesitant, or lacking in his diligence or passion for serving God and Jesus. Thus, he next states that we should be "fervent is spirit". The Greek word "render" fervent is often transliterated as "zeó" (Strong's #2204). The actual meaning of this word is "to boil", or "to be hot". The Greek word is related etymologically to the English word "zeal". Ellicott states concerning this word: "The temperament of the Christian is compared to water bubbling and boiling over the flame."
Paul does not use the word "spirit" here to designate God's Holy Spirit, but he speaks of the spirit -- the temperament -- within the child of God.
We should note at this point that Paul is not speaking of being slothful in business affairs of the world, nor of diligence in attaining worldly achievements. However, this does not mean that it would okay for a Christian to be slothful in performing whatever worldly business duties he might have. The special application, however, is to what the child of God is doing in spiritual service of Jehovah and his Son, Jesus.
The extant Greek manuscripts have Paul speaking of "serving the Lord". Was Paul speaking of serving the Lord Jesus, or did actually use some form of God's Holy Name that was later changed to the Greek form often transliterated as "tō Kyriō", meaning "the Lord". The context could be read either way, but Paul was evidently speaking of serving "God" referred to Romans 12:1-3,19. Ellicott tells us: "Some of the extant Græco-Latin codices, and others known to Origen and Jerome, read here by a slight change of vowels 'serving the time'; no doubt wrongly, though the expression might be compared with 1Corinthians 7:29; Ephesians 5:16, et al." We believe that the evidence suggests that Paul originally used a form of God's Holy Name in Romans 12:11, and as in Romans 12:19, copyists later changed the Holy Name to other words.
The child of God should each day examine his activities for the day, so as to apply the above admonition of the apostle Paul. Our earliest thoughts should be, "What can I this day render to Jehovah?" (Psalm 116:12) And as we go about our activities, each hour, each moment, we should constantly serve Jehovah in word and thought. Our work in service of Jehovah should not be approached with the idea of doing as little as possible, but with a willing spirit of devotion and with zealous diligence undertaking whatever tasks are permitted for that day in His service. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
Related Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 15:15; Ezra 7:23; Psalm 42:1,2; Psalm 119:139; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 62:6,7; Proverbs 6:6-9; Proverbs 10:26; Proverbs 13:4; 18:9; Proverbs 22:29; Proverbs 24:30-34; Proverbs 26:13-16; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 56:10; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 24:12; Matthew 25:26; Acts 18:25; Acts 20:34,35; 11 Corinthians 7:22; 1 Corinthians 13:3; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 4:16-18; Galatians 4:18; Ephesians 4:28; Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24; Colossians 4:1; Colossians 4:12,13; Thessalonians 4:11,12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; 1 Timothy 5:13; Titus 2:9.10; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 6:10,11; Hebrews 12:28; James 5:16; Jude 1:3; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 4:8; Revelation 2:4; Revelation 3:15,16; Revelation 3:19.
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