How can I pursue excellence?
Exodus 35:31-35The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers.
Romans 12:6-8In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
To pursue excellence, we should recognize the gifts and talents God has given us and use them as often as we can to the best of our ability.
1 Chronicles 26:6Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan.
To pursue excellence, we should recognize excellence in others, encourage their efforts, and try to find key positions for them.
Nehemiah 13:13I assigned supervisors for the storerooms: . . . These men had an excellent reputation, and it was their job to make honest distributions to their fellow Levites.
2 Corinthians 3:1-3Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
Philippians 1:3-5Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
To pursue excellence, we should work hard to be someone with an excellent reputation who can be trusted with responsibility.
Ephesians 5:1Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Hebrews 6:12-11Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.
To pursue excellence, we should carefully watch the example of others as they pursue excellence or mediocrity. We should learn from the good examples and avoid the bad ones.
Exodus 26:1“Make the Tabernacle from ten curtains of finely woven linen. Decorate the curtains with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim.”
Exodus 31:1-3Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts.”
Exodus 36:1“The Lord has gifted Bezalel, Oholiab, and the other skilled craftsmen with wisdom and ability to perform any task involved in building the sanctuary. Let them construct and furnish the Tabernacle, just as the Lord has commanded.”
2 Chronicles 30:22Hezekiah encouraged all the Levites regarding the skill they displayed as they served the Lord. The celebration continued for seven days. Peace offerings were sacrificed, and the people gave thanks to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
Hosea 13:2Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skillfully with human hands.
Micah 7:3Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil!
To pursue excellence, we should recognize that excellence can be channeled in the wrong direction. We should be sure to pursue excellence in a way that serves God, not fights against him.
Jeremiah 48:7Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive.
To pursue excellence, we should remember that the point of excellence is to glorify God, not just to make ourselves look good. If we’re not careful, excellence can lead to pride. Pride not only harms our relationships with other people, it often tempts us to rely on our own strength instead of turning to God. As we feel less dependent on God, we begin to wander away from him. We should always remember that God gave us our skills and rely on his guidance in using them.
