Excel in Everything
Today’s scripture selection: Second Corinthians 6-8
Key verse: Second Corinthians 8:7
A lot of us like to excel at something – at least one thing.
Maybe it’s part of our nature; maybe it’s a reflection of our competitive culture; maybe we just like to feel good about ourselves – plain old “self-esteem.”
But it’s interesting to me that the apostle Paul, when writing to a group of fellow Christians, talked about excelling in things that the world sometimes almost overlooks. He counseled them to continue excelling in
- Faith
- Speech
- Knowledge
- Earnestness
- Love
- And what he called the “grace” of giving
In other words, they weren’t to worry so much about being successes as defined by the world – wealth; power; fame.
They were to strive to reach higher ideals – not the least of which was love – what the old King James Version of the Bible calls charity.
It’s noble and good counsel.
While the rest of the world worries about getting ahead – we are challenged to simply give of ourselves more and more.
It’s a shame that this only seems to happen at certain times of the year, like the holidays, or during times of great natural disaster. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all honestly say we excel – at all times – in acts of selfless charity.
Prayer: Lord, show me how to be filled with grace for others, as you are. AMEN.
