Excellence in Ministry

When it comes to excellence in ministry I think the root of the problem lies beyond the issues of utilizing your people and resources and knowing their spiritual gifts. Those things are important, of course, but in my opinion there is a deeper, more sinister issue. Mediocrity in ministry is linked to our view of God and the response of our heart and mind. The question is, “Is God worthy of our best?”

If the answer to that is “yes” then it is a sinful response to do anything less than our best regardless of what resources, gifts, time, etc. we have. Most of us would surely agree with the idea that God is worthy of our best efforts. We would acknowledge freely that He expects us to use the resources that He has provided to glorify Him. To wallow in mediocrity is the equivalent of deciding that we will use what God has given to less than 100% of its potential.

Perhaps it is laziness; an unwillingness to make the sacrificial effort to discover and utilize the full potential. Perhaps it is selfishness; a desire to use the time and effort in endeavors which more directly impact our own desires and plans. Perhaps it is fear; an undue concern over the possibility of trying and failing. Perhaps it is unbelief; a paralysis created by an unwillingness to believe God when He says He will provide for and bless our humble service. Whatever the reason, if one understands who God is, there is no denying that for one to deny Him their best effort is sin.

There is no need to raise the standard of excellence in ministry today. There is a need to strive for the standard that already exists because of who God is. It is not the standard that we set … not the standard of our peers … not the standard of our community. When it is understood that the standard to which we aspire must be HIS standard, then the default to which the corporate culture of a church as well as the personal outlook of the individual will move is to strive for excellence and achieve an ever growing level of excellence. Until then, we will wallow in the miasma of mediocrity.

What are YOUR thoughts?