EXCELLENCE

(1Cor. 10:31-11:1)

In our text Paul shares two imperatives (commands) that must control Christian behavior and the believer's freedom. First, everything must be done to the glory of God. Second, everything we say and do should serve to advance the effective proclamation of the Gospel.

Jesus declared that effective Christian service demands that we put God's interests above our own.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luke 16:24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

The effective Christian life is built on a foundation that places God and His Kingdom first.

When a scribe brought up the issue of the first or greatest commandment, Jesus replied by saying:

Mark 12:29-34 - 29Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

32So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

In essence, Jesus was saying that the one who loves God will give Him their all and their best. In the late 1800's Howard B. Grose wrote Give Of Your Best To The Master.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave.
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart.
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave.
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love.
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save.
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.

GIVING GOD PREMINENCE

By the time we reach 2Samuel 7, David has witnessed the consolidation of the northern and southern tribes into one nation (5:1-5). He has successfully conquered Jerusalem and taken the stronghold of Zion (5:6-10). A royal palace has been built for David, his throne has been established, and family has grown significantly (5:11-16). Under his leadership the Philistines were severely defeated (5:17-25) and the Ark was returned to Jerusalem (6). Even so, David senses that something is missing and in a conversation with Nathan, he declared:

"See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." (2Sam. 7:2)

David did not want the on looking nations to conclude that Israel exalted her king above her God. There was a desire in his heart to give God the preeminence—to build a place of excellence for God. God's right to preeminence is expressed via the impassioned pen of Paul the apostle.

Colossians 1:15-18 (NKJV) 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence [be first in rank and influence].

Preeminence means that He is first in rank and first in influence. Everything we do should be done in acknowledgement of His preeminence. This issue was a governing factor in Paul's life.

Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain".

Concerning this Dr. Lehman Strauss wrote: "For Paul, life had but one meaning and one interpretation. He lived for Christ. Apart from Christ, life was purposeless" (p.87). This is a far cry from the people that Malachi wrote to.

Malachi 1:6-8 (NKJV) 6A son honors his father,

And a servant his master.

If then I am the Father, Where is My honor?

And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?

Says the LORD of hosts

To you priests who despise My name.

Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ (See 3:8.)

7 "You offer defiled food on My altar, But say,

‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying,

‘The table of the LORD is contemptible.’

8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil?

And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?

Offer it then to your governor!

Would he be pleased with you?

Would he accept you favorably?"

Says the LORD of hosts.

God was not asking for extravagant opulence. What He did demand and expected was that His people, a people He had blessed, honor Him and esteem him. He expected His people to honor Him with their best. Instead, they kept the best for themselves and gave what they did not want to God. This practice had become so commonplace that when indicted the people asked, "In what way have we despised Your name?". It is a sad day when lukewarm indifference and mediocre service is so commonplace that it becomes the norm.

Haggai had dealt with a similar issue less than a hundred years prior to Malachi's ministry.

Haggai 1:2-10 (NKJV) 

2"Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built."’"

3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!

6 "You have sown much, and bring in little;

You eat, but do not have enough;

You drink, but you are not filled with drink;

You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;

And he who earns wages,

Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."

7Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! 8Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. 9"You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.

God, through Haggai, indicates that Israel's poverty was directly linked to her failure to give God preeminence.

 

EXCELLENCE AND REVIVAL

 

Has the Church failed to experience more of God

simply because she fails to give Him her best?

I realize that we do not earn salvation, but REVIVAL can be traced to a cause. When Luke introduces Cornelius (the first Gentile to experience the outpouring of the Holy Ghost) to his readers he says,

"There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:1).

Cornelius' spiritual life was marked by excellence. He gave his best to God and God in return gave His best to Cornelius.

God is sovereign and will do what He wants to do, but I cannot help but think that there is a define link between excellence and REVIVAL. Yes, prayer is a prerequisite to revival, but this prayer must be of the excellent kind—consistent, faith inspired, passionate and heartfelt.

EXCELLENCE AND WORSHIP

When David set out to gather the building material for the temple, scripture says, "So David made abundant preparations before his death" (1Chr. 22:5). According to 1Chronicles 22:14, he collected 750 tons of gold, 37,500 tons of silver, more bronze and iron than could be measured, and timber and stone. What he amassed was so abundant that we are told that the materials were without limit (1Chr. 22:16). Some 24,000 Levites were appointed to "look after the work of the house of the LORD," 6,000 were appointed as "officers and judges," 4,000 were "gatekeepers," and 4,000 "praised the LORD with musical instruments, which David made for giving praise" (1Chr. 23:4).  ...

Prayer:

Father, forgive us for offering to you things that we did not value.  Forgive us for singing with a wondering heart.  Forgive us for going through the motions of worship while our thoughts are on other things.  Forgive us for using up our day, giving you the dregs, and, worst of all, feeling that we had done you a favor.  Forgive us for doing your work in a slipshod manner, because you deserve our best.  Forgive us for failing to prepare for entry into your presence.  Oh Lord, help us to see you as you are.  We desire to give you our best; to strive for excellence in our living, in our giving, and in our worship.  You, oh Lord, are WORTHY of excellence!

(c.) 2000, by Louis Bartet, all rights reserved.

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