Have you heard of the
parable of the talents? Any bible reading Christian would—anyone who knows
Jesus Christ would know this parable. It’s an example of God wanting excellence
from his people: rewarding excellence with ruler ship. If you know the parable,
the master goes on a journey to get a kingdom, and says: “Occupy until I come”.
He gives money to his servants in hopes that they use them to the best of their
abilities. One was given five talents, another two, and another one: each
according to his ability. Well, the first person did the best that he could to
get another five talents, the second did the same and got two more talents, but
the third didn’t do anything with his master’s money. He buried it and didn’t
do anything with it. According to the parable, the master returned with the
kingdom and wanted an account of what his servants did, and rewarded them
accordingly: the first, he said “Well done good and faithful servant, you were
faithful in little things, have ruler ship over ten cities.” The second got a
reward for his excellence as well, but the third didn’t get a good reward for
doing anything; he was considered a lazy, wicked servant because he didn’t use
it to the best of his abilities. He lost his talent, and it was given to the
one with ten.
Jesus told this
parable because he knew that the kingdom of God wouldn’t come immediately in
His days, but was going to be afar off. Its 2,000 years later since those words
were written in the pages of your bible, and He still hasn’t returned. But the
drive and strive for excellence still remains today as it did when Jesus told
the parable, and the reward is still the same. Jesus wants His people to do the
best that they can with the abilities that God has given to them. Solomon said:
“whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes
9:10). Paul said in Colossians 3:23 concerning servants: ”Whatever you do work
at it with all your heart, as working for the lord”. We are all servants
working for the LORD who desires excellence from his followers. So, I would
like to encourage you who are reading this today to strive for excellence in
life; for God will reward you abundantly for what you do. It’s not about how
much money you make, but the willingness to do the best work with meaning and
purpose in the LORD Jesus.
I have been reading
about John F Kennedy lately, and a quote from him fills me with joy, and he
said: “The
ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along
lines of excellence.” The Greeks whom he was talking about was Aristotle, and
the philosopher said: “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result
of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the
wise choice of many alternatives—choice not chance, determines your destiny”.
This is true especially in the days of Moses when he gave the children of
Israel a choice of life and death. Although there are many roads and choices
out there that could lead to excellence, the basic choices lead to death or
life. Aristotle didn’t choose a lot of things that were right especially in
regards to abortions and population control—which was against God’s command.
But, the philosopher has some wisdom that the scriptures agree with in regards
to excellence.
I find
myself in drear need of that happiness that John F Kennedy had while president
of the United States. He was happy to have a job that he can do his best in and
do something with excellence. I have been through high school and several
colleges, and still haven’t found something that I could do my best in and
strive for excellence, but I am in good company because Colonel Sanders didn’t
start Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was an old man. Walt Disney struggled as
an animator before he made it big with Mickey Mouse. Booker T Washington was a
slave who was freed during the Civil war before he helped with the civil rights
movement in the early days and started the Tuskegee Institute. George Washington
Carver didn’t excel in being an administrator at Tuskegee, but he knew a lot
about peanuts. George Washington lost most of the battles he fought in the
American Revolution, but because of his abilities, he became the first
president of the United States. There are many more examples of men and women
who strived for excellence: look at Emily Dickenson, Amelia Earhart who flew
across the Atlantic and across the continental United States, and Elizabeth the
First who became the virgin Queen of England. I could go on, but you get the
point.
Right now,
I want to do something that I can do my best in, and strive for excellence in
Christ, and wherever Christ leads me to do, I’ll do with all my might.
