Beyond Mediocrity

Exodus 31:1-6

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. (Exodus 31:3)

ISRAEL HAD ITS SHARE OF CRAFTSMEN. Every ancient culture did. But when it came time to construct the Tabernacle and its articles of worship, run-of-the-mill craftsmanship would not suffice. So God called Bezalel to the task and filled him with his Spirit, assigning Oholiab and other craftsmen to help. It is the first time Scripture mentions someone being filled with the Spirit, and the privilege was given to an artist. Apparently, God is interested in excellence.

But Christians haven’t always thought so. There have been times in Christian history when patrons and artisans of the church produced many of the world’s finest masterpieces. And today, the world’s standards dictate that success comes from seeking excellence in whatever craft you pursue. But for decades, perhaps even longer, many in the church have grown comfortable with mediocrity. They think devotion is all that matters and that excellence is either a worldly demand or an exclusive luxury that snubs their heartfelt creations. Some unwritten rule seems to have convinced us that whatever we do in the name of the Lord is good enough, even when it isn’t our best.

That isn’t true of all Christians, of course, and the evangelical community has begun producing outstanding works of music, film, literature, and art again. We must hold on to the truth that no one needs to excel in order to gain God’s approval, but grace should never undo our desire to excel for his glory. If we are to represent our Creator well, we will need to be known for cutting-edge creativity. Adapting secular creativity for our own purposes is not enough. We are filled with the Spirit to do excellent work.

Many are finding that divinely inspired and motivated excellence and creativity do wonders for our reputation and draw hearts toward God. We serve a King who is worthy of our highest offerings. When we give them, he fills them with power and glorifies his name.

{Lord, you are worthy of my best. May I and every other believer seek excellence in all we do—even if it seems to be a mundane task. Let me never forget that anything done with excellence in your name can glorify you. Amen.