from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.
Proverbs 28:19
Winning the lottery, making a million dollars on a reality TV show, gambling, having rich parents or marrying rich, are just some of the tips you’ll read when you Google, “Get rich fast.” Get-rich-quick schemes promise high rates of return with little risk, skill, time, or work.
It was my father who first taught me, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The book of Proverbs, which my dad reads from every day, agrees.
Proverbs 28:19 contrasts hard work to chasing the fantasies of get-rich-quick schemes. A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty (NLT). The hard worker is diligent in her tasks. The person who chases fantasies is always looking for an easier way. One leads to abundance, the other to poverty.
The point of the verse is not to elevate manual labor over desk jobs, or tasks that cause us to break a sweat in comparison to jobs that can be accomplished in high heels. What counts is the motive behind the responsibility at hand.
Is our motive to give our very best or do we seek to get by with the least amount of effort possible? Be warned: One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys (Proverbs 18:9). Within Aesop’s fable, it’s the diligent effort of the Tortoise, not the dreamy, nap-taking Hare that crossed the finish line first.
How do you and I approach the work of lesson planning, leading devotions for GEMS or Bible study, or preparing for a large group event like camp, theme night, or fall workshops? Do we do the hard work that bears abundant fruit for the Kingdom? Or do we cut corners and hope no one will notice?
In his book, Excellence, Andreas Köstenberger writes, “Far from being optional, excellence is in fact a divine mandate that applies to every aspect of our lives, for God Himself is characterized by excellence. Mediocrity, sloppy workmanship, and a half-hearted effort do not bring glory to God or advance His kingdom.”
We must pattern our work after God’s work! He is the Rock, his works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4). Throughout His story of Creation He would look at what He made and see that it was very good (Genesis 1).
Wisdom Step: If God would grade the work you’ve done for Him today, would it read excellent, good, or poor? Seek to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Doing a few things well is better than doing many things poorly. When we are on the job, we are to give 100% effort, not the minimum we can get away with.
Kenneth B. Wingate
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