Is The Quest For Excellence Biblical?

25 Nov Is The Quest For Excellence Biblical?

Posted at 13:17h in English Service, Show Latest, View by Pastor Vincent 0 Comments

Pastor Vincent - 5 February 2015

The Person Of Jesus, The Word Of God

Watch
Listen

"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” [Jn 5:39-40] Often, we get so involved into doing the “Works” for God. We preach the gospel when it comes to the weekly scheduled time, we pray because we know that we should seek Lord, we serve in the ministry because we are put in that serving places… But often, after doing all that we’re doing, we have also become less wise, losing more grace, increasingly unable to grasp the sense of Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus said - You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. You cannot believe anyone’s writing when you do not have the soul of the writing, i.e. Christ. In another word, have we been so absorbed into the visible works and routines even in church-serving, busy schedule of our daily lives that we become less of Christ in doing them? Have we lost the person of Jesus in these? If Jesus is to live in your roles, positions, fields and family, what will he do? He has always been in obedience to the Father, yielding His sovereignty to the Father and following His will in saving the lost sheep - as we continue to know the Word, are we also becoming more like Jesus? Come to have a life with Jesus today. The part of your life which you keep for yourself is also the very place Satan stays to kill, steal and destroy the relationship you have in God. Yield your sovereignty to God instead by connecting, seeing and hearing from the unseen God in every ways and in every things that you do. You’ll be in awed of the infinite love and strength this Father-Son relationship gives you, just like the relationship between the Father God and Jesus. "And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me”. [Jn 5:37]

From Series: "All English Service"

Download Video Download Video View Notes

Powered by Series Engine

We are living in a merited world, and the quest for excellence does not escape the eyes of men. Likewise, many Christians pray for excellence in what they are doing, so that they can testify the blessing of the Lord. Yet is that kind of strive for excellence right to start with? And is the quest for excellence biblical after all?

Verses to read:
<Dan 1:2-5,8; 19-20; 2:17-19>
<Php 1:9-10> <2 Cor 8:7> <1 Cor 12:31>

Introduction

Human being possesses the sense of excellence.
The World is merit driven, thus excellence focus.
– School ⟹ Grades, Achievements
– Workplace ⟹ Performance
– Church and ministry?

King Saul

<1 Sam 14:52>: All the days of King Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.

Daniel in Babylon

<Dan 1:3-4>: Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility—young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.

*** Heart Vs Excellence

1. Worldliness Vs Christianity

1) The World believes in Superiority, thereby pushes everyone to pursue Excellence.

2) Yet, the Christian call is first about Purpose.

Therefore, even with purpose, there must be a Purpose for that excellence.

Consider carefully:**

E.g. Daniel and friends: Were they 10 times wiser than all the magicians and enchanters first, or did they set themselves apart first?

E.g. David: Was he anointed as king after he beaten Goliath or before? Did he glorify God as a shepherd boy or after he became king?

E.g. Joseph: Did Jospeh glorify God when he was the PM of Egypt or when he was a slave, a prisoner.

** Yet the Bible did NOT say we can be cavalier about studying, learning and working. In fact, getting the purpose right pushes us towards a Spirit-driven excellence.

2. With godly purpose right, pursue excellence in 5 areas:

1) Achieve excellence in the knowledge and application of truth

2) Embrace excellence in the grace of giving

3) Pursue excellence in gifting through serving

4) Seek excellence in loving others

5) Seek excellence while knowing there is a price to excellence

Tags:

Excellence Faithful Ministering Glorify God Purpose Driven

Print page

Pastor Vincent Choo

[email protected]

Vincent serves as the President of The Blessed Run Church. He is also the Senior Pastor of The Life Church and Missions (Singapore) and is an ardent missionary to the Chinese World. He currently lives in Singapore with his wife, Qiufen, and has three kids, Mary, David, and Caleb.