Why Should We Strive for Excellence?

Grandpause:

“Excellence can be obtained if you care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.” –Anonymous

When God gave Moses instructions about building the Tabernacle, attention to detail and quality of work were never in doubt. “So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded”  Exodus 36:1.

God’s workmanship is never sloppy or second rate, and He expects the same level of excellence from us for the work He gives us to do. In fact, Paul reminds us that “we are God’s workmanship”, which means that God was not satisfied with “just okay” when He made you.  He did not make you and say, “Oops! Oh well, that’ll just have to do, I guess.”  Sin has marred the pot—not the potter.

As His workmanship, excellence in everything is an opportunity to declare the praises of God and the beauty of that workmanship. As His workmanship, we were created to work. All other creatures God made “expend effort” as Doug Cooper, Executive Director of City Gates Initiative writes. He goes on: “Effort for the purpose of creating is work. We were created to work. We work to create”… and do so with excellence. To settle for sloppiness and mediocrity, is to communicate that God’s work was not good enough, both in the way He made me and in the work He gave me. That is sin.

Those of us who worship and serve the Creator ought to be known for our excellence in everything we do. The skills we posses have been given by the Lord to carry out all the work He has set before us to do… with excellence, just as He did with Bezalel and Oholiab. So, let us set our hearts to the task of doing all things to the praise of His glorious grace. That’s excellent!

So, what does this have to do with grandparenting? We ought to be an example of excellence in all we do for our grandchildren—not to puff ourselves up, but to show them the joy of fulfilling what God made us to be. Be intentional in your excellence as both model and instructor.

Here’s an idea. If you are near your grandchildren, why not check out some of the local artisans or a builder you may know and take them to see how they do their work and why it is important to do it with excellence. What are the various skills needed to do the work well? What would happen if excellence were not valued in their work?

Look around you. You’ll see lots of opportunities for teachable moments on the topic of excellence. I’d like to hear your stories about ways you have been able to teach the virtue of excellence with your grandchildren.