In the midst of our moving recently, we attempted to teach our boys the concept of doing things “with excellence.” We gave them lists of things to do to help prepare for the move such as: packing various items, vacuuming rugs, washing walls, emptying trash etc… We noticed that after we checked over their list that things seemed to be consistently done half-way. They did what we asked to some degree, but not well. The trash cans were emptied, but the baskets were lying down half-toppled over on the floor of each room. The rug was vacuumed just enough to get “some” of the dirt off and then rolled up dirt and all. They did the jobs to say they were done, marked it off their list, and then headed for the TV. God gave me a few scriptures to help enlighten them on their work ethic that I want to share with you today.
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:17
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
Colossians 3:23
God doesn’t want us to face this life doing everything half-way or to work half-heartedly to say we did it. He wants us to do things to the best of our ability “with excellence.” We are representing Him with all we say and do. We are doing it FOR HIM! Whether we are flipping burgers at McDonalds, changing dirty diapers, or leading Boy Scouts, we are doing it for God and as a representative of Him to this world. We need to do things “with excellence.”
What does doing things with excellence look like? Excellence can be defined as going above and beyond doing something. When we were Youth Pastors years ago, we drilled into our teens that we need to do things “with excellence.” When we went on a trip, we would emphasize the fact that we need to leave this place the same or better than how we received it. We were being a witness or a reflection of God to others by our actions. We wanted to be a good one! They didn’t like cleaning up their trash, straightening up rooms, or staying late, but we were bent on being consistent in this area. Eventually they caught on and began doing it all on their own without being prompted with the right heart.
If we say we love God and live for Him, then we need to show it by our actions. If we really are doing things FOR GOD as the scripture says, then we need to do them WELL to the best of our ability. What does doing things with excellence look like? It’s staying to help clean up after a church service and being the last one to leave, it’s filling the gas tank up to full after borrowing a friend’s car when you received it almost empty, it’s paying above average to your waitress at a restaurant, it’s going above and beyond what is expected of you to bless someone else. What does doing things “with excellence” look like? It looks like YOU doing your best for God in whatever you do! If you were to give yourself a grade on doing things “with excellence,” what grade would you get?
Why should we do things with excellence? Who cares? God cares. We are representing God to the world by what we do and how we do it. We are a reflection of Him. Reflect Him well. The best way to do things is the excellent way. I challenge you today to choose to go above and beyond in everything you do and remember you are doing it FOR GOD. Very few people strive to do their BEST at anything. As you begin to do things “with excellence,” you will stand out among the rest and God will bless you as a result. I pray the “most excellent way” will become a lifestyle for you as you continue to serve Him.
Living to leave a legacy!
Julie
