EXCELLENCE – 2. Don’t Settle for Average
People notice those who go beyond average. In Daniel chapter five we read the amazing wartime story of Daniel’s elevation above all of Babylon.
Daniel’s reputation had preceded him. The following chapter reveals that the governors could not find fault with Daniel, as he had distinguished himself above all Babylon. Good news travels fast in the world of average.
In horse racing, a horse that can run one second faster than all of the other horses is worth millions of dollars.
Years ago the story was told how French down hill skier, Jean Claude Keeve who won the Olympic gold; he won by just three tenths of a second. That tiny margin made a big difference – the following year his pay cheque was over $3 million while second place earned just $30, 000 as a ski instructor.
Just a little extra can distinguish you remarkably above average. Conformity is the shortest distance to acceptance in the crowd.
Proverbs 12:26 tells us, “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduces them”.
Our God is an excellent God and we ought to be people of excellence.