A Life of Excellence

A life of excellence is the sign of the life of a good steward. The pursuit of excellence is demonstrated from a heart that seeks to mirror the character of a perfect God rather than applause. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. (Colossians 3:23, KJV)

In the biblical sense, excellence, often associated with the behaviors of virtue and diligence, is the intentional practice of bringing our best to every task, relationship, and thought. Thoughts are a major contributor to actions. We tend to do things in concert with our primary thoughts. Philippians 4:8 states, “…if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (KV) The NLT version specifically references excellence, “…If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about such things.” It is up us to build our thoughts to align to excellence so that we have the testimony thereto.

Building a life of excellence is more about reflecting the character of God by doing our best with what He has given us. It is a matter of quality that, besides diligence and virtue, is also sometimes tied to wisdom.

• 2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.” (KJV) “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence…” (NLT)
• Daniel was a great example of excellence in diligence, wisdom, and virtue as depicted in Daniel 6:3. “Then this Daniel was preferred… because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (KJV) “Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators… Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.” (NLT)

People like Daniel tend to become recognized for their diligence as it makes them credible in their business. Proverbs 22:29 provides more insight, as it states, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” (KJV) The NLT version puts it this way, “Do you see any truly able workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.”

The spirit of excellence requires the discipline of refusing mediocrity because we represent a King who created the universe with precision and beauty. By grounding our standards in the Word of God, we shift our motivation from “performing” to “worshiping,” ensuring that our work and character stand out as a light in a dark world.

TRANSFORMATION

Reflect: How have you demonstrated excellence in your life? What lessons have you learned from your experiences?
Renew: What steps toward growth is needed to improve upon how you have already demonstrated excellence?

P06-2026MAR