By Gary Woodall
While growing up, many of you may have heard something like:
“Once a task you’ve begun leave it not until it’s done and be it a matter great or small do it well or not at all”
This is good advice for us as we go about our secular work and good advice too as we go about practicing our Christianity.
It is our job to glorify God in all that we do. We are to glorify him in worship, in our families, and our work.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31, NASB).
While we can never be perfect on our own, we are to excel or seek excellence as we go about being a Christian.
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more (1 Thessalonians 4:1, NASB).
Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more (1 Thessalonians 4:9,10, NASB).
Seeking excellence in our Christianity clearly is expected. Did you know that we are to excel and do our best in our secular jobs as well?
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23-24, NASB).
To work heartily is to work with all the heart, in an excellent way, not halfheartedly.
To abound is to excel. Remember…
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58, NASB).