Text: Prov.31:29
29 “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”
Intro:
In history the word excellence has been used as a title of honor. It derives from the word
excel which means to :
>> go beyond average,
>> deliver superior quality,
>> refine,
>> produce works of distinction,
>> Constantly upgrade and innovate.
1. Value Excellence
Gen 29:20
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of
the love he had for her.
>> What you value, you are willing to pay for.
>> Your sacrifices & labour indicate your value.
>> Esau- immediate gratification.
>> Jacob – delayed gratification.
>> They both paid and their lives told the rest of their story.
2. Don’t Settle for Average
Eg-David in 1sam.17.
· Excellence can be attained if you…
>> Care more than others think is wise
>> Risk more than others think is safe
>> Dream more than others think is practical
>> Expect more than others think is possible
>> Work more than others think is necessary
3. Pay Attention to Detail
1 Sam 17:40
40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the
brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his
hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
>> Be well groomed; your appearance matters
>> Always have the patience to read through your emails, text messages etc.
4. Develop a Deep Commitment to Excellence
Heb 10:6-7
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have
come — In the volume of the book it is written of Me —To do Your will, O God.
5. Possess Ethics & Integrity
Prov. 25:28
28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Gen 39:9
9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you,
because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
6. Show Genuine Respect for Others
Ruth 2:11
11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done
for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and
your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.
7. Go the 2nd Mile
Gen 24:15-20
15 And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to
Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her
shoulder. 16 Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her.
And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet
her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.” 18 So she said, “Drink,
my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. 19 And when
she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until
they have finished drinking.” 20 Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back
to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
· Rebecca teaches us…
>> We are not to live our lives as a legalist
>> We cannot walk the 2nd mile until we’ve walked the first
>> Extra blessings are a result of extra effort
8. Be Consistent
Dan 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with
his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed
and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
9. Never Stop Improving
Phil 3:10-14
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the
dead… I press on, that I may lay hold…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus.
· Improvement Insights
>> Self-improvement is a quality of a Leader, not a follower
>> Self-improvement is the Only way to remain a leader.
>> Our greatest challenge is not gaining on others but to get ahead of ourselves.
>> We must take responsibility for our own improvement
10. Always give 110{d308dd1122ada760554eb7d8ee0b8b5fb479c31e12a1d6ca3836f154bcc822bd}
Phil 3:14
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
· Four Types of People Regarding Commitment
>> Cop-Outs – They set no goals, make no decisions
>> Hold-Outs – Uncertain they can reach their goals so they fail to start
>> Drop-Outs – They start, but stop when the going gets tough
>> All-Outs – They set goals, pay the price & reach their goals
11. Make Excellence a Life-Style
Dan 6:3-5
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent
spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the
governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but
they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault
found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless
we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Adapted from Injoy Life Club 11- John C. Maxwell.
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