Tested and Approved: 21 Lessons for Life and MinistrySample

Day Two: Excellence Is a Reflection of Effort and Attitude

“Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5 NLT).

When you think of excellence, what comes to your mind? Do you think of expensive? Maybe you think of the best of something. Or you might think of having no rivals. Would you say LeBron James is excellent at basketball? Or Bill Gates is excellent at business? Are you an excellent student, parent, employee, athlete? The list could go on.

King David’s son Solomon was excellent in all his ways. His reputation for excellence spread everywhere. He became so famous for his excellence that the Queen of Sheba traveled a long distance to witness it firsthand. In 1 Kings 10:4–5, she gave this assessment: 

When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her (ESV, emphasis added).

Was the queen impressed by Solomon’s great wealth? His wealth certainly was great, but what really amazed her was the way he conducted himself and his kingdom. Solomon’s efforts bore the fruit of excellence. Excellence is not about money; it is about the wisdom reflected in the way we go about our business. It displays discernment, which is then reflected in our attitudes and efforts. Simply stated, excellence is doing the best with what we have available to us in every situation—making the most of the talents and resources God has given us.

In 1 Kings 3:5, “The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you’” (ESV). Now, can you imagine God coming to you with a blank check and giving you that opportunity? But what did Solomon do? He didn’t ask for wealth or victory over his enemies. Instead, Solomon asked for “an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9 ESV). As a result, Solomon’s reign was marked by the excellence the Queen of Sheba heard about and then witnessed with her own eyes.

Excellence compares to influence much like wattage relates to the brightness of a lightbulb. If you want to have a brighter bulb, then you’ll need more wattage. And if you want to have greater influence, then be excellent in all your efforts. God is calling you to excellence. He expects you to use the gifts and talents He has given you to display and produce excellence for His glory.

Consider: If perfection is not the standard of excellence, then what would you say it is? Define excellence in your own words. How can you pursue excellence in your life?

Holy God, I want to be diligent in all my efforts. Grow the desire for excellence in me. Change my heart and mind to reflect Your desires. In Jesus’s name, Amen.