Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
With Excellence
“Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.” (Pr 10:26)
Lazy people are a nuisance – that’s what Proverbs says. Nobody dies from getting smoke in their eyes, but you typically get irritated moving around the campfire trying to avoid it. Vinegar will wear down tooth enamel and erode your teeth… but not overnight.
Laziness is the slow-burning sin. It will frustrate your spouse, disappoint your children, pass you over for promotion (and by extension, cost you money), and erode your sense of worth.
On the other hand, a little hard work never hurt anyone. Work is at the core of commitment to God. Don’t worry about doing everything, but definitely do something.
Admiral William H. McRaven gave a speech at the University of Texas that made its rounds across the net because it was so impactful. The speech was entitled “Make Your Bed”, and it is absolutely worth the ten minutes of your time to look up on YouTube.
His premise was simple – if the first thing you do when you get up (make your bed) is done promptly and with excellence, the rest of the day is likely to follow suit.
If laziness is a habit that begins with procrastination, then excellence is a habit that begins with promptness. Do what is right in front of you with the best of the ability you have, and you will find those small habits snowballing into a lifestyle of excellence.
Be prompt, be present, and be active. When we get up and get moving, we become better spouses, parents, employees, friends, neighbors, and most importantly, better disciples of Christ.
What will you do today with excellence?
