The Pursuit of Excellence

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

I don’t know if we (I)  even think about pursuing excellence on any given day. Life goes by with the ticking of the clock, a flip of the calendar or crossing off items on our to do list.  Do we always try to do our best or just get by with good enough?

Towards the end of his life King Solomon became despondent.  The more wisdom he held and the unimaginable riches he obtained  he bcame frustrated rather that fulfilled. He had it all but his motives had been mixed. I believe he pursued knowledge and personal happiness before pleasing God. He married foreign women which God forbade and although he carried out the instructions for building The Temple his own heart had grown cold.

 

Ecclesiastes 5:18–19
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.  Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

 

THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Pursuing excellence is not the same as pursuing perfection.  We are imperfect beings because of sin and that is why the Law was given in the first place. God wants us to become holy, to be like Him. The apostle Paul learned the difference the hard way.  Paul was the best of the best with a perfect pedigree, had the best teachers and held strict adherence to the Law. (Phillippians 3)  He was so zealous for God’s righteous law that he forgot about God’s love and mercy.  Paul had to learn, “it’s not about me”.

 

Philippians 3:8,9, 12-14
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

 

 

• Definition of Excellence: In biblical terms, excellence signifies striving for the highest standards in actions and attitudes, emphasizing diligence and integrity as core values.

Pursuing excellence is a continuous journey not a destination. We learn from our mistakes to grow and change to do better and be a better person for God’s glory not ours.

Colossians 3:23–24  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

 

EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE

Throughout the scriptures we are given examples of living and striving for excellence even in difficult situations for our encouragement.

Joseph was sold by his own brothers but as a slave worked hard for his master. The boss’s’ wife was quite seductive but he ended up in jail for refusing her advances. Despite every circumstance he kept his faith in God and was eventually raised up to the right hand of Pharoah.

Daniel  was captured as a teen and brought to the capital of Babylon. He refused to eat unkosher food and deny God by joining in pagan practices. He and his friends studied hard, obeyed their masters and were commended for their diligence and wisdom.

Ruth chose to stay with her mother in law and was willing to work hard.  Considered an outsider (Moabites were not liked by Jews) she gained favor with God and the townspeople.

God looks at the heart which includes our attitudes and motives. Our motivation should be like Paul’s to press on for our eternal reward. To be content in every circumstance by knowing God is in control.  May we choose to do the best we can and be our best every day.