Excellence is wrong when it is an end in and of itself. If we pursue excellence for the sake of being excellent, we have created an idol to serve. Excellence, however, is a worthy pursuit if it is a response to the God who has called us to display His Glory. Colossians 3:17 (NASB) says the following: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” This verse points us to a very high standard of conduct. It is a standard that will be identified as excellence by those who observe it being lived out.

 

As followers of Christ, when we examine the preceding list, we would all agree on the premise that all should be done for Christ. When we live our lives in the reality of its worth to God, in response to the love God has shown us, and in order to please the Father through serving the Son, the pursuit of excellence is the byproduct. God’s mission is to make His name great among the nations. Excellence is the result of our pursuing the same mission by displaying His greatness in what we do. We must always be careful when praised for excellence to take the opportunity to recognize the True Source of excellence and its true end.