Excellence For Life

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue … 2 Peter 1:5

Here in 2 Peter 1:5-7, we are given a list of seven stages of spiritual development that should follow our initial faith in Christ. The first thing we must add to faith is “virtue,” which can be translated as excellence or efficiency. In other words, the Bible is saying that since we now believe in Jesus Christ, we must add to our faith, excellence! Excellence therefore is a necessary Christian virtue! Excellence means to exceed a given standard that is ordinary, average, terrible or unworthy. It is to be superior in quality, greater in quantity, to transcend your job description, and to outdo yourself each time.

1. Excellence is to be superior in quality. Quality never happens by chance, it is always the result of high intention. In other words, you have to purpose in your heart to go for excellence! You make it a point never to compromise on the quality of your work! The call of God is always a call to excellence—never a call to mediocrity.
2. Excellence is to be greater in quantity, which means we must become as productive as we can be for the Lord. Jesus said in John 15:8, “By this My Father is glorifi ed, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” It takes real hard work and the right mindset to raise the quality of your life and become a productive person.
3. Excellence is to transcend your job description. You don’t just do what others expect of you, you go beyond that. The person who is average says, “Hey, this is not my job and I am not paid to do this!” The excellent person says, “I am here to provide the best service possible to my clients, even if it means going the ‘extra mile.’” Jesus says in Matthew 5:41, “and whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” We may say that the first mile represents duty; the second mile represents love. So going the second mile is someone who “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” Obviously, God’s will for us in everything we do as Christians is to go beyond duty into love.
4. Excellence is to outdo yourself each time. Your biggest competitors are not your rivals, colleagues or classmates. Your biggest competitor is really yourself! The person who is ordinary and average says, “Wow, I want to stay out of trouble and cruise through my career.” The excellent person says, “Hey, I am not complacent or satisfi ed with the status quo. I want to be the best person I can be for the glory of God. I want to fulfi ll my highest potential in life.” Remember Colossians 3:23, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Let us make a decision today to excel for the glory of God!