This post is the second in a series on the topic of personal excellence based on a talk I gave to the student group at our church recently. The following posts will highlight w
Personal Excellence requires proper motivation: our primary, overruling motivation to pursue excellence must emanate from a desire to give God glory. Any other motivation will end in seeking the vain praise of other people. Our goal and aim is praise from God. You can have one without the other. Don’t mistake praise from men as praise from God. Jesus warned the Pharisees as they performed their ostentatious displays of religiosity in front of crowds of people that “They have received their reward in full.” We ought to live as people seeking a reward that cannot be fully given in this lifetime. We ought to make it our aim to hear the words of the good master in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (25:21).
A secondary motivation, implicit in the parable of the talents I have just mentioned, is that, we have been given a charge by our Lord to be faithful in that which he has given us. Jesus tells us in Luke 16, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (16:10). Also, related to this, “To whom much is given, much is required.” There are few American Christians who could contend that we have not been given much. In terms of opportunity, wealth, health, and even technology our place in history is unrivalled. How will we use it? Will we use what God has given us to become excellent students, employees, missionaries, teachers, nurses, engineers, auto mechanics, preachers, fathers, husbands, mothers, wives, sons, daughters, followers of Jesus, friends, and servants? I shudder sometimes to think of what God has given me and how small my response has been.
A third motivation: When God first called Abram away from his people he gave him the following promise: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (12:3). In other words, God blesses us so that we are equipped and can turn around and bless others. The blessings that we receive do not end with us--they are meant to be used to point others towards God. Excellence is a surefire way to be capable of blessing others. Excellence in whatever walk of life opens the doors for us to bless other people.
Biblically, I think immediately here of the story of Nehemiah. I don’t have time tonight to get into every detail of that incredible story, but here are the pertinent facts as it concerns our present discussion: Nehemiah was a Jew in exile working in the court of King Artaxerxes, otherwise known as the king of the Persian empire. He was obviously a diligent and accomplished worker and eventually found his way into a position as cupbearer to the king, a position of some prominence. One day, after hearing fresh information on the status of the temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish people in general Nehemiah became depressed and entered Artaxerxes’ presence in that state. Artaxerxes, clearly not used to seeing Nehemiah downcast, asked him what the trouble was and Nehemiah told him. Because of this, Artaxerxes opened up the finances of the Persian empire to aid Nehemiah in his efforts to rebuild the temple. Because Nehemiah was a good worker with a positive attitude, the temple was rebuilt. When God blesses us, we must bless others.
Personal Excellence requires proper motivation: our primary, overruling motivation to pursue excellence must emanate from a desire to give God glory. Any other motivation will end in seeking the vain praise of other people. Our goal and aim is praise from God. You can have one without the other. Don’t mistake praise from men as praise from God. Jesus warned the Pharisees as they performed their ostentatious displays of religiosity in front of crowds of people that “They have received their reward in full.” We ought to live as people seeking a reward that cannot be fully given in this lifetime. We ought to make it our aim to hear the words of the good master in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (25:21).
A secondary motivation, implicit in the parable of the talents I have just mentioned, is that, we have been given a charge by our Lord to be faithful in that which he has given us. Jesus tells us in Luke 16, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (16:10). Also, related to this, “To whom much is given, much is required.” There are few American Christians who could contend that we have not been given much. In terms of opportunity, wealth, health, and even technology our place in history is unrivalled. How will we use it? Will we use what God has given us to become excellent students, employees, missionaries, teachers, nurses, engineers, auto mechanics, preachers, fathers, husbands, mothers, wives, sons, daughters, followers of Jesus, friends, and servants? I shudder sometimes to think of what God has given me and how small my response has been.
A third motivation: When God first called Abram away from his people he gave him the following promise: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (12:3). In other words, God blesses us so that we are equipped and can turn around and bless others. The blessings that we receive do not end with us--they are meant to be used to point others towards God. Excellence is a surefire way to be capable of blessing others. Excellence in whatever walk of life opens the doors for us to bless other people.
Biblically, I think immediately here of the story of Nehemiah. I don’t have time tonight to get into every detail of that incredible story, but here are the pertinent facts as it concerns our present discussion: Nehemiah was a Jew in exile working in the court of King Artaxerxes, otherwise known as the king of the Persian empire. He was obviously a diligent and accomplished worker and eventually found his way into a position as cupbearer to the king, a position of some prominence. One day, after hearing fresh information on the status of the temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish people in general Nehemiah became depressed and entered Artaxerxes’ presence in that state. Artaxerxes, clearly not used to seeing Nehemiah downcast, asked him what the trouble was and Nehemiah told him. Because of this, Artaxerxes opened up the finances of the Persian empire to aid Nehemiah in his efforts to rebuild the temple. Because Nehemiah was a good worker with a positive attitude, the temple was rebuilt. When God blesses us, we must bless others.
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