Do Your Best
There is a lot of talk today about being a multi-tasker, developing both sides of the brain and being poly-dexterous. In doing so many desire to maximize their talents and enhance their abilities, yet by being a “jack of all trades” you also become a “master of none”. My wife is an artist. She can paint landscapes, buildings and people, but what she is really good at is painting portraits. Her ability to capture the likeness of a person is phenomenal. Now, she could work at painting other styles of art, such as impressionistic, modern or cubic, but then she would never become a master of what she is good at. Those that are skillful in what they do rise to the top. In Proverbs 22.29, it says: “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” To be skillful at something requires a lot of concentrated work.
Christopher Cook was born in 1979 and is an English former Olympic and European swimmer. When he began his swimming career, Chris Cook was not known by the Olympic coaches. He was a good swimmer, but not good enough to swim in international tournaments. He spent hours a day practicing, competing in every event available to him as well as hours in trying to market his image, but to no avail. Those, with the right connections, did not give him the time of day. After a number of frustrating years, Chris tried another approach. He hired, Ian Oliver as his personal trainer. Ian told Chris to stop trying to make himself known to the right people, but to do just concentrate on swimming two laps of the pool. As he focused on just one event, his times improved. He specialized in swimming the 100 meter breast stroke and became a medal winner in the Commonwealth and Olympic games. After Chris Cook became excellent in just one thing, he was able to fulfill his dream of being an Olympic swimmer.
When Moises was commanded by God to build the Tabernacle, he chose those who were excellent embroiderers, designers and engravers. He could not trust such an important task to those who knew just knew how to do the work, but to those who were excellent and skillful. David was chosen by King Saul to sooth his tormented soul, by playing his harp, because David was a skillful musician. King Solomon chose Huram-abi to be in charge of building the Temple, because he was a skillful craftsman. Ruth became known to Boaz and later was chosen to be his wife, because she was an excellent woman. In Proverbs 12.4 it says that an excellent wife is a crown to her husband and in chapter 31 it says she is more precious than gold.
Doing your best requires an investment of time and energy. One is not born skillful; one becomes skillful. Some say our talents are given to us by God, but really our talents are the result of many hours of practice and work, resulting in an excellent talent we can give as an offering to God. Paul exhorts the Colossian Church to do whatever they do, with all their heart as to the Lord. (Col. 3.23) Excellence honors God, so strive to be your best as a husband or wife, as a mother or father, and as a worker or leader. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Don’t just be better than someone else. Be the best at what you do and who you are. Do your best for God.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Prov. 22.29; 31.10; 12.14; Ex. 35.35; Ruth 3.11; I Sam. 16.16; II Chron. 2.13-14; Col. 3.23