Excell in Excellence

September 10, 2011 at 12:12 pm · Filed under Bible Devotions, Just a thought, Uncategorized

Excel in Excellence

 We find an interesting perspective according to scripture that David was tempted to increase based on the concept of “the grass is always greener on the other side”. Thus, he thought a relationship with Bathsheba would give him something better than what he  possessed. We find this concept to be true from the beginning of time with the fall of Adam and Eve such as the temptation to want beyond their current position. We are always tempted by the thought that something is greater than what we currently have. The excellence I am speaking of today is not to excel into another place or time but to excel in the current life that we have at hand. Not in avoiding but by expanding in the place we are now. We often think that if we just hold on till we go to heaven, everything will be better. However there is something for us to do with our time while we are yet here.

 Fantasy will play a huge part in the fulfillment of our lust and those things we covet. Ignoring our reputation and morals that keep us right with the Lord is often destroyed by our own lust and fantasy. Believing in false stories or the idea of the grass is always greener on the other side will reveal that yes, it is greener and yes it’s pleasant to see, but be not deceived, it isn’t always what it appears to be. In most cases we find it will provide yet another opportunity to pick up what we should have embraced in our current position from the start.

1 Thessalonians 4:

¹ Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

² For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication:

⁴ That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor

 So often I hear at work those who wish to aspire to a position of  leadership. However they have no idea of the position and its requirements of responsibility and accountability. Those same employees are continually late, gossips, have low productivity, and despise authority, etc. Leadership seems like a great place to be. It can be an opportunity in which we can change what we don’t like about our current position. It can give us the power to rule others. It can bring a bigger income, etc. However we still must ask; are these good motives and do they make me qualified? The other side may seem to be pleasant however it comes at a greater cost. If we have not been diligent in the current position we may struggle in the new. Perfecting ourselves is important so that when the opportunity to excel in bigger things presents itself; we are equipped and ready to adjust into that new position. What makes a good leader is not simply one who inherited the position. It is earned by our ability to acquire the attributes that we need in order to be an extraordinary leader once given the opportunity. In all my working experiences I strived to perfect the current position I held. It was in this that when the green grass on the other side presented itself I had the wherewithal to discern what the cost was and whether or not I was up to the challenge. One element remained consistent in every position I held, and that was being faithful in the little things. This truth is applicable to every aspect of our lives. When we struggle to maintain in the current position we should not be subjecting our selves to something that will require even more diligence and accountability, even though it may seem to look wonderful. I have seen many fellow believers fall into this trap. What happens is we neglect to lift one ounce of integrity or diligence in perfecting our own walk and yet we pursue a ministry in order to perfect everyone else’s walk. This produces advice and council that is wishful rather than knowing. Leaders are a dime a dozen. Extraordinary leaders with the attributes of perfection within themselves are far and in between. Some other examples of application are; what makes an extraordinary loving marriage versus a typical conditional marriage? What makes an extraordinary Father or Mother versus a typical Dad or Mommy, etc. The attributes, are the key elements that define what causes us to excel beyond for excellence. Jesus is our excellence and how we excel in the attributes he has laid out for us to perfect, will determine how extraordinary we have become.

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