Before Christ I was in the medical field. I tend to be a detail oriented person and still love trouble shooting problems. By nature I’m a fixer. I love to cross market and I’m a stickler for efficiency.

 

I’m a “work smarter not harder” girl and have had great bosses who cultivated that gift in me. I led sales teams across the country with others who shared the same vision.

 

We aimed to do what we say and say what we do. Operate above reproach with character and earn people’s trust.

 

We wanted to be known for caring about people more than sales and we did whatever it took to show that we did.

 

Fast forward to life in ministry.

 

My MBA is a bit dusty on my shelf because God’s economy isn’t always the same as the worlds. However, a spirit of excellence is something that should absolutely transfer into the life with Christ.

 

In the church I’ve noticed a “let’s just get by” mentality and an “I’ll do as little as possible” heart posture and honestly the world sees it.

 

We cut corners when we shouldn’t, hedge on integrity when we should have a high bar, and well our “word” means little these days.

 

We worry more about who should pastor and who shouldn’t and honestly have caved to the age old spirit of religion.

 

God hands us out assignments and we let them drop while we run for something grander or shinier.

 

All the while He is testing our obedience.

 

We want to lead but don’t want the labor involved. We like to show up with little to no effort and honestly if we were in a natural job, we would either be on probation or fired altogether.

 

Where is our spirit of excellence?

 

If the world understands this, should not the church understand it even better?

 

I’m a cautious observer and when I begin to see red flags on how we treat others, how we handle responsibility, and how we care for Gods land, well, I’m going to believe what you show me.

 

The boss calls us for a meeting and we know if we don’t show it’ll be a problem. Jesus calls us to a meeting and we opt out for more important things. Yet, the consequences of that missed meeting can be life and death.

 

Excellence looks like many things.

 

It looks like faithfulness.

It looks like getting your hands dirty.

It looks like stewarding well what God gives us.

It looks like stepping up to the plate to meet the requirements of getting a job done.

 

Excellence.

 

It’s going beyond the limits to exalt the name of Jesus rather than skimming the surface.

 

It’s loving lavishly others in need rather than walking on by.

 

It’s taking good care of the land God has given us and honoring Him by honoring it.

 

It’s using His money wisely by not sowing it into dead places. It’s asking Him where He wants it to go and then obeying.

 

It’s saying, “Yes” to an assignment and following through.

 

It’s being a finisher not just a starter.

 

A spirit of excellence can be seen by many and can impact the Kingdom in extraordinary ways.

 

God also notices a spirit of excellence.

 

If God calls you into a meeting for your Kingdom job review, will He give you a raise? A promotion into greater things in the Kingdom? A “well done good and faithful servant?”

 

Or will He advise you to take your job under serious consideration because your job is in jeopardy?

 

The gifts of God are without repentance but if we are found not trustworthy of what He has assigned to us, we are in a serious dilemma because God takes His business seriously.

 

If we don’t steward well, we can lose what we’ve been given and it might be given to someone else who’s proven more trustworthy.

 

Don’t sell your birthright. Don’t take lightly your calling. Aim higher esteeming people and esteeming God. Honor well others and learn to be committed to Christ wholeheartedly.

 

When you have an opportunity to take short cuts, don’t.

 

When you see a chance to “trim” on integrity, don’t.

 

When you have an opportunity to sleep with the enemy for influence, don’t.

 

Pay your bills.

Pay your taxes.

Stop lying and cheating.

Work hard for Christ.

Stop misusing God’s money.

Stop blurring the lines in ministry.

Walk with integrity.

Operate with Godly character.

Stop looking for shortcuts and loopholes.

Be above reproach.

Stop preaching what you are not living.

Stop using people for your personal gain.

 

None of this is becoming of a spotless bride.

 

Instead…

Operate with the Spirit of Christ which is always a spirit of excellence.