Excellence, it seems to me, is not something we must learn about from international competition. If indeed Christians serve a holy and perfect God, Creator of the universe, then excellence should be our reasonable service unto Him.
To my knowledge, the Bible does not contain an "Excellence" passage like the one on government in Romans 13, or love in I Corinthians 13. But the Bible is loaded with statements on excellence, beginning with the creation account when God set the standard by creating and calling everything "very good."
God's character is good, and He does good. God gives to us "every good and perfect gift." In Philippians we are told to "approve things that are excellent" and "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Colossians tells us that whatever we do, "whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Excellence is the Christian way of doing things. It is not an option...because excellence in what we do is one way we tell the world Who God is. Excellence is one expression of Biblical Christianity. It is a form of stewardship. Excellence in our behavior, excellence in our relationships, and excellence in our work are spiritual acts of worship.
For the homemaker, excellence may mean creating a home environment that edifies, protects, and cares for the family. For an employee, excellence is a job well done. For the business owner, excellence means a commodity produced or service provided with the highest standards of quality and professionalism. For the church worker or pastor, excellence is integrity and faithfulness in ministry.
For the Christian, excellence is living a life of obedience to the Lord. It means sins are avoided or confessed. Excellence in holy living is an investment in our children's future, visiting not the sins but the blessings of the fathers and mothers to the third and fourth generation. Excellence is a spiritual legacy for those who follow us.
If we want to make a difference, we've got to work toward excellence because excellence is the Christian way of doing things.
© Rex M. Rogers – All Rights Reserved
"Excellence is the Christian Way of Doing Things," #005 from the Making a Difference program, Cornerstone University Radio, and the Making a Difference newspaper column syndicated nationally. Originally recorded January 22, 1993.
*Making a Difference may be reproduced in whole or in part with a full attribution statement. Contact Dr. Rogers or read more commentary on current issues and events on his blog at www.rexmrogers.com or follow at www.twitter.com/rexmrogers.