Bible Truths: “Christian Excellence”

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.     –Colossians 3:23

The Bible says, in Hebrews 11:4, that “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous…”.  Abel offered a “more excellent” sacrifice to God than did his brother, Cain.  We read in that account found in Genesis, chapter 4, that Abel brought the first and the best of his flock to offer to God.  Abel offered God his best.  He gave an “excellent” sacrifice.

Obviously, we do not sacrifice animals as an offering to God, anymore. The Bible makes it clear that the sacrificial system was finished with Jesus Christ being the perfect Lamb that was slain for the sins of the whole world.  Now, however, we are asked to sacrifice something much greater: our lives.  Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  As born-again believers we are to offer our lives as a “living sacrifice” to God.  Abel offered up an “excellent sacrifice”.  Are we offering up an “excellent” life as a sacrifice to God?

In all areas of life, in “whatsoever ye do”, we are to strive to live as an excellent “living sacrifice”.  We do not strive in order to bring honor to ourselves, but we strive for excellence so that by your good works, which they [non-Christians] shall behold, [they will] glorify God…(I Peter 2:12).  We do not bring honor to God when we do not give our best in any area of our lives.  When we do not give our best, when we offer up a less than excellent living sacrifice to God, it not only grieves Him, but can cause “the name of God and His doctrine to be blasphemed.”  (I Tim 6:1; also Titus 2:5)  As Christians, we should give our best in every thing that we do.  We should strive for excellence in order to bring glory to our Lord and Saviour.

So, when you are mowing your lawn, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.  We are not manicuring our lawn, hoping to win the acclaim of our neighbors, but rather we mow to bring glory to God.  When you are vacuuming the house, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.  God wants us, as His children, to do all things in an excellent manner.  If our lawn is overgrown and unkempt, it could cause an unbeliever to scoff at our Lord.  We want to make sure we put no stumblingblocks in the way of others who may come to salvation through Jesus Christ.  

If our houses are in a perpetual dirty, messy state, will that not hinder us from inviting others over and showing them Christian hospitality?  If we do invite them over, might the mess distract them from hearing our words?  No matter how small of an area of our life it may be, the Bible tells us that in whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord.

This definitely applies to our spiritual lives.  Are you living an excellent spiritual life?  Are you separating yourself from sin?  Are you drawing near to God?  Are you praying always?  Are you studying your Bible?  Are you worshipping Him as a lifestyle?  God does not want us to give a half-hearted sacrifice, as Cain did.  We should give our lives as an “excellent living sacrifice”.  May we, through His power, live each hour of each day heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men.  May we live an excellent life for Him.

Pastor Lee Smith