Excellence: neither expensive nor elite

Often when we think of ministry excellence, we think of places with lots off money, extravagant sets, lighting, and decor. Sometimes what we perceive as excellent is also perceived at elite, or the best of the best.  I would say that I don’t think excellence has anything to do with being expensive or elite.
Colossians 3:23-24  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

My definition of excellence is:

Excellence: doing the best you can with what you have where you are (tweet that!)
It doesn’t matter what your setting, your size, or your budget. You can be excellent. It is sometimes a struggle to maintain focus where we are, when we can look down the street and see someone else with more money and a larger crowd. For me, that often equates to perceiving the other guy as excellent, expensive and elite. It may be true that he is excellent, but I often have to stop and remind myself that expensive and elite are NOT the definition of excellence. I can be excellent where I am with a much smaller crowd and budget. Excellence comes from why and how you do what you do, not from where you do what you do or how much it costs you to do what you do. (Tweet that!)do your best
You don’t have to take my word for it, just ask David. When he delivered lunch to his brothers, he realized what kind of trouble there was. He decided to be excellent. That did not involve Saul’s expensive armor, nor was
David one of the best soldiers (elite). Instead, he took what he knew (stones and sling) and did the best he could with what he had, where he was. God honored David’s actions and motives. And you know how the story ends.
You don’t need to be the best of the best. But you do need to be the best you can be.   (Tweet that!)
Be excellent–do the best you can with what you have, where you are, and watch what God does in and through you.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
How would you define excellence? Do you ever find yourself comparing situations to define your excellence? What is something you do that is excellent? I’d love to hear from you.

 

About the Author

Ron
Ron is happily married to his best friend, and dad to the best daughter you could imagine. As a teacher and children's pastor, he has over 20 years experience of teaching, leading, writing, creating and consulting. He has written for churches, contributed to several collaborative publications, and written a #1 Best Selling Devotional, Got Fruit? on Amazon. His blog is consistantly listed in the Top 40 Children's Ministry Blogs and Websites. Don't hesitate to ask if you think he could help you and your ministry in any way.

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