Here are three quotations on the idea of doing our best:
"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way." (Booker T. Washington)
“I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” (Abraham Lincoln)
"Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence." (Unknown)
One of my Dad’s favorite sayings was “If anything is worth doing, its worth doing right.” I’m pretty sure he didn’t originate the expression, but he said it so often as I grew up, it just seemed like he had.
Some things, of course, aren’t worth doing. If it’s wrong within itself, it isn’t worth doing. If it’s dishonest and underhanded, it’s not worth spending a single moment doing it. Motivations such as greed or pride can turn a good act into something less attractive, at least as far as it concerns the one doing it. If we’re taking undue advantage of another, showing disregard for them as a person in some way, we are doing something unworthy of one who is a child of God.
Regarding doing things well, the apostle Paul said, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17) He follows this up with a word to Christian slaves:
“...obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (3:22-25)
One writer said that these verses, and others like them, suggest “a sense of dignity in work, regardless of how unimportant that work may seem to be.” (NIVBC)
Surely, if those in slavery – in most cases to pagans – were to think of their work in this way, those who are the slaves of Christ (Eph. 6:6; compare Rom. 6:18-22) ought to do our best in everything we do. If we are to do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” we should consider the privilege of our responsibility a matter of the highest priority.
The old saying is true. If the thing we’re doing is worthwhile, we ought to give it our best.
Larry Sheehy is the preaching minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269 or sborococ@frontiernet.net
"Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way." (Booker T. Washington)
“I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.” (Abraham Lincoln)
"Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence." (Unknown)
One of my Dad’s favorite sayings was “If anything is worth doing, its worth doing right.” I’m pretty sure he didn’t originate the expression, but he said it so often as I grew up, it just seemed like he had.
Some things, of course, aren’t worth doing. If it’s wrong within itself, it isn’t worth doing. If it’s dishonest and underhanded, it’s not worth spending a single moment doing it. Motivations such as greed or pride can turn a good act into something less attractive, at least as far as it concerns the one doing it. If we’re taking undue advantage of another, showing disregard for them as a person in some way, we are doing something unworthy of one who is a child of God.
Regarding doing things well, the apostle Paul said, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17) He follows this up with a word to Christian slaves:
“...obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (3:22-25)
One writer said that these verses, and others like them, suggest “a sense of dignity in work, regardless of how unimportant that work may seem to be.” (NIVBC)
Surely, if those in slavery – in most cases to pagans – were to think of their work in this way, those who are the slaves of Christ (Eph. 6:6; compare Rom. 6:18-22) ought to do our best in everything we do. If we are to do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” we should consider the privilege of our responsibility a matter of the highest priority.
The old saying is true. If the thing we’re doing is worthwhile, we ought to give it our best.
Larry Sheehy is the preaching minister at Statesboro Church of Christ. He can be reached at (912) 764-5269 or sborococ@frontiernet.net