The Key To Success In Life

With the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says, “… in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). God, speaking through King Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, said: “Do you see a man diligent in his business? \He shall stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29).

What does Solomon mean by diligence? It is “careful and persistent work or effort. It is conscientiousness or industriousness in doing ones work or activity.” The synonyms of diligence are: meticulousness, conscientiousness, thoroughness and carefulness. In Tagalog, “plansado.” Solomon adds, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right” (Prov. 20:11). Why a child? Because a child is innocent and has no intention of doing evil things. Why doing? Because it is not enough that we think or dream about it. We must do it – and do it the right way.

Diligence is a learnable skill that combines creative persistence, a working effort rightly planned and rightly performed in a timely, efficient, and effective manner to attain a result that is pure and of the highest degree or quality of excellence. In other words, diligence is a skill that can be developed by any one, young or old, educated or uneducated, poor or rich, brilliant or not. It is available to anybody willing to acquire the skill. But mind you, it is a tedious task and time-consuming and cannot be attained overnight, but the reward is what everybody is dreaming - success in life - - financially, socially and whatever we dream of!

Solomon said, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall not stand before mean men (or ordinary) men”.

The Lord Jesus is the best example of a diligent worker. Thus, the Bible says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:15 NIV).

My personal experience (as I used to say, “experience is the best teacher”) was that as an ordinary member of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which in those days had a membership of three hundred businessmen, professionals and government officials, upon the sponsorship by my bosom friend and co-incorporator in 1973 of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (Philippines) Inc., the late Rey R. de Leon, who was then the Executive Vice President of the Chamber, I was inducted as member and was first appointed as Assistant Secretary, then elected as the Corporate Secretary. I held on this position for a long time, perhaps because the members and officers perceived my diligence, until I was elected Vice-President for professional and business ventures. Thereafter, I was elected President for two terms, and then Chairman of the Board for one term. My privilege as a former President and Chairman of the Board are free membership for a lifetime; free meals and special table with other former Presidents and Chairmen of the Board during any function of the Chamber, also for a lifetime. By the way, during my term, the Davao City Chamber was awarded the accolade “The Best Chamber in Asia-Pacific”.

As President of the Chamber and later as Chairman of the Board, I had the privilege to have handshakes with President Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph E. Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Indeed, the Bible is true that “a man diligent in his business… shall not stand before mean men but before kings.” Solomon was right! The Bible is true! How did I attain such “success” if we may call it that way? Purely through “diligence” in performing my assigned task.

In my younger days as a lawyer, Davao City RTC Judge Antonio Martinez awarded me a substantial attorney’s fee. The opposing counsel moved for a reconsideration of the award complaining that the award was too much. In denying the motion, the Judge said, “Atty. Cariaga, a young and diligent lawyer, deserves the attorney’s fee awarded by this court.” Judge Martinez was later promoted as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

By God’s grace, I was recommended by the Davao City Chamber to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, which, in turn, recommended me to the President of the Philippines for appointment as the business sector representative in the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) for Region XI. I am serving in that capacity from President Fidel V. Ramos’ term up to this day, with my latest re-appointment by President Noynoy Aquino effective June 1, 2014 to expire five years after.

Our interview and appearances in TV from time to time especially during clamor for minimum wage adjustments in Region XI, have made me known not only to the business and labor community but to all people where the TV program reaches. One time, clothed in a simple plain white T-shirt without collar, I bought bananas from a sidewalk vendor. The owner addressed me, “Attorney.” I asked her why do you know me as an attorney? She answered with a winsome smile, “I always see you on TV.” I also smiled to acknowledge the goodness and favor of God for the free advertisement, so to speak. It pays to be diligent more especially in the business of the LORD God Almighty. Praise God!

Our business in FGBMFI is God’s business and command: “Go into all the world and preach the good news (gospel) to all creation”. (Mark 16:15 NIV) or the Great Commission “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations … teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you …” (Matt. 28:19-20 KJV). Notably, our FGBMFI bulletin is circulated all over the world, particularly the articles with blog. Let us be diligent in our business whether spiritual or secular to succeed in life for the glory of God.