Devoted to Excellence

“He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.” Proverbs 28:19

There is no doubt that we can name plenty of hard working people who have lost their fortune. I have a dear friend, one of the hardest working people you might ever meet, who is now near bankruptcy due to a combination of physical challenges, properties what were flooded and dishonest business partners. Hearing stories like that we are tempted to say, “See, this proverb, along with the rest of Scripture, is unreliable.”

The problem with that thinking is we equate “proverbs” with “promises”. A proverb is a certain type of literary device which, in a short phrase or sentence, describes a basic truth or practical precept. A proverb is a “law of averages”, a look at life which draws general conclusions based on certain actions.

To phrase this proverb differently, we could say that most people who till their land will have plenty of food, and most who chase empty dreams end up in poverty. Proverbs are the “best bet” of behavior and results. In this case we understand that dedication to hard work is more likely to meet our needs than chasing after every “sure thing” that comes our way.

One church I pastored was within a few miles of a casino. More than once people would ask me to pray for them so they could tithe their winnings to the church. Understand, I never asked anyone where their donations came from, but I would much rather pray for someone to prosper at their hard work than chasing the easy (and empty) buck of the slot machine.

This proverb is about excellence. No matter what our job, we should be the best employee possible. Teachers who are always looking for better ways to present their knowledge are usually far more successful. A young person just entering the job market is more likely to be promoted if they are the first ones to work, are not found just standing around, and take the initiative to do the next thing that needs to be done. A worker who is more concerned with how many breaks they get and how long their lunch hour will be probably have less chance of promotion.

What about our life for God? I believe if we desire to live for Him the best way possible this will show itself in all other areas. In his book, Excellence, Andreas Köstenberger writes “God Himself is characterized by excellence. Mediocrity, sloppy workmanship, and a half-hearted effort do not bring glory to God or advance His kingdom.” 

Dreamers will focus on the exception to this proverb. They will point to the person that played that lottery once and won a million dollars. Somehow, the idea that I personally heard about it makes it seem more likely to happen to me. God does not play dice with our lives. His workmanship is portrayed by the beauty of wildflower hills, the white-on-black of a clear night sky and the incredible dynamics in the universe from sub-atomic particles to the design of our mega-universe,

We should pattern our work after His. In all things, even the most menial jobs, the Christian is not serving their boss. In the end, they are serving and representing the King of the Universe. In Genesis 1, after each day of His creation, God said that is was “good”. How much more, then, should we look at our own work, and, in honor of Him, desire that it be called “good” as well.

There are no “get rich quick” schemes that work. Yes, some people win the lottery, but odds are you will not. Some make millions on reality TV, but you probably will not. Some have rich parent or marry rich, but you probably are no in that handful of people. Anything that offers a high rate of return with little or no risk, skill time or work is as empty as it sounds. Don’t waste the life God has given you chasing after the next scheme. Get-rich-quick schemes promise high rates of return with little risk, skill, time, or work. To try to base our life on the exceptions to the rule is only to court disaster.

Instead, devote yourself to the work you have. Be the most dependable, hardest worker in the office, schoolroom or construction site. Be the most attentive and creative parent you can be. God has given you specific talents and abilities. Put them to use, and with hard work over time, you will see the benefit of being devoted to excellence.