Proverbs 8:6
“Please listen…I want to share with you the things concerning excellence...”
I love this word “excellence”. It has this certain admirable ring to it. It comes from the root word, “excel” meaning: to transcend, to rise above, to surpass, or to go beyond.
The bible talks about a man named Daniel saying, “This man Daniel was favored above his peers because…an excellent spirit was found in him.” His peers became jealous of his position, the favor upon his life, and his great accomplishments. Therefore, attempts were made by them to discredit his name...and remove him from his place. Of course, unknown to his enemies, the source of Daniel’s strength and success clearly did not come from a source of his own. Rather, his ability to transcend, to rise above, to surpass, or to go beyond what others were able to do…came from his ability to have the faith to courageously obey the direction and purpose that God had placed upon his life...even in the face of extreme danger and adversity!
The bible declares and clearly defines God’s integrity in Psalms 8:1 saying, “Oh Lord, our Lord…how excellent is your name in all the earth.” In those days a man’s character was closely related to his name. Therefore, this verse is not talking just about God’s name, but rather the testimony that His character and integrity possessed then, and still possesses in our society today. No matter how far a man may fall from God, or become embittered against him…when people really get in a bind, they know upon whom they need to call. God is merciful. He is excellent in his character. His ears are always open to every prayer that is made with a sincere heart...no matter from whom the prayer is coming.
If we too are to walk with this strength, we must learn to be of an excellent spirit. We must not be vengeful and angry people. Nothing does more to make us fools, than our inability to control our own emotions. If we cannot control our emotions, we will not have power over our mouths. If we have cannot temper our mouths, then we are not just fools in private, but also in public. Proverbs 29:11 says, “…a fool utters everything in his heart, but a wise man waits to speak until later.” In other words, a man of excellence has the ability to refrain and control his heart…his mouth… and therefore also his actions.
At this point it is important to note that…Daniel’s spirit was not excellent because he was without failures! There has never been a man to live, other than Christ, to do so! Nevertheless, God, in his wisdom, does desire of us excellent things and right things. However, because of certain decisions that we make, many times we paint a wrong picture for the world around us to observe. We all in one way or another, sometimes fail to exemplify the beacon of excellence which we should. We start looking more like everyone else…instead of the uncommonly different picture which God intended the world around us to see.
Surely, none of us are exempt from our many short-comings…times when we blew it…situations where we lacked the necessary understanding to make the right decision. We all come to points in our lives when we need to know which way to turn…and it is at this juncture we should sit down and make it a point to ask God to guide us through this complex maze of life in which we live today. We need to be honest. Maybe we might just need to say to God and everyone else around us. “Hey Guys, I really messed that one up. Please forgive me and give me another shot.”
May God help us all as we strive to draw closer to him…to wait on him and trust in him...to be more like him…to be filled with his spirit…a spirit of excellence...rise above it all...excel...and despite the many tribulations and battles of life...accomplish things through Him that we never imagined possible!