I play guitar. So do many other people. I enjoy it and I think I'm a decent picker but I'm certainly not the best. I saw a T-shirt the other the day that I'm thinking about buying that says, "World's okayest guitar player." Yup, that's me. The truth is there are a lot of guitar players, and a lot of really good ones. I may not ever be the best, but I would like to be better than okay so I practice and I work at it. Not so much for the praise of people, but for my own personal satisfaction. Not that there's anything wrong with a compliment or pat on the back from someone. Everyone enjoys, and needs, a pat on the back every once in a while.
When we work hard on or at something we like to know that what we've done made a difference. We like to know that the effort, commitment and sacrifice were worth it, that the hard work paid off. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. It's just that anymore, we seem to live in a society that wants and promotes a pat on the back for, well, nothing. It seems to me that people want to do what's easiest and most convenient, but they want the same rewards and benefits. The problem is, it just doesn't work that way. Minimum effort, commitment and sacrifice results in minimum rewards and benefits. If we strive for mediocrity, we will get mediocrity, and who wants that? What if I asked you how you would like to go see an okay movie or have an average dinner at an average restaurant? You probably wouldn't get very excited about that. No, we want excellence, but to achieve excellence we have to strive for it. Excellence isn't easy. It means attention to detail, hard work, commitment and, yes, sacrifice.
In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul is speaking to Christians about their personal conduct. He is encouraging and teaching them to set their mind on things above, not the things that are on earth. He says to put away the old self and put on the new self. Be the person that Jesus has saved them to be. In verse 17 he says, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Then again in verses 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."
If you are a Christian, then God has called you to strive for excellence. Jesus didn't save us so we could be mediocre Christians. He has called each of us to a life of commitment to Him, a life of sacrifice. If you are a husband or wife, strive to be the best husband or wife you can be. If you are a parent, be the best parent you can be. After all, who wants a coffee mug that says, "World's okayest Dad" for Father's Day?
If you work for someone, be the best employee you can be. If you provide a good or service, do the best you can. As a child of God, everything you do should be done with an eye for excellence. You and I are called to make the effort, pay the price, pay attention to the details, put in the work. We are not called to simply do what's easiest. There's no pat on the back for mediocrity and God desires, demands, more. He also promises more.
When we do the work, we may not always be appreciated by people, but we will receive a reward from God. That's His promise to us and His reward far exceeds any pat on the back we could receive here on earth.
Remember, "set your minds on the things that are above." That's the key. Don't settle for okay, strive for excellence.
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Editor's note: Paul Bryant is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield. He can be contacted by email at [email protected]
Religion on 10/07/2015