The Leadership ChallengeSample
Challenge 49
PAUL, SEEKING EXCELLENCE
READ: Colossians 3:1–25
God is a God of excellence. Everywhere you look you will find testimonies to that reality. He has filled creation with amazing beauty and complexity. Even though we know we are created in God’s image, we sometimes look skeptically on the concept of excellence because of the ambition that often drives “excellence” around us. After all, doesn’t Paul warn us not to do anything out of selfish ambition (Philippians 2:3–4)? Yet it is precisely because we are created in God’s image that we each have the potential for doing great things. Is there such a thing as godly ambition in the pursuit of excellence? Paul tells us that the answer to that question is yes. What distinguishes godly ambition from selfish ambition in the pursuit of excellence is our focus. Are we motivated to do great things well to serve God to promote ourselves? Paul challenges us to do our work with all our heart in it—to do it well. Our motivation is not to gain the praise and approval of others but to lovingly serve the Lord. Pursuit of excellence means ambitiously doing our best with what God has given us. We work for God’s glory and the benefit of others, and our reward awaits!
According to verses 17 and 24, what is our motivation for seeking excellence? How can you encourage excellence in yourself and in your teams?
Scripture
About this Plan
The Bible doesn’t discuss leadership like a popular business book. However, since God is the creator of everything that exists as well as the rules and processes by which everything works, the Scriptures do provide principles and examples that give us insight and wisdom into effective leadership. The social and cultural backgrounds of the Bible are different than ours, but the Scriptures contain truth that transcends time and space.
More