A well-known axiom holds that the pursuit of excellence is a key to business success. Knowing that our work serves a vital purpose in God’s kingdom gives added depth to this pursuit. Our quest for workplace excellence is driven by acknowledging God as our primary stakeholder: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Col. 3:23). Whatever our job description, we work in God’s kingdom, and so we do work that befits a King.
Excellence begins with the confident assurance that we are created in God’s image to do work that matters to Him. All who serve God—not just those employed by a church or Christian agency—are called to work for a Kingdom purpose. Thus excellence is more than a matter of proficient management, superior products and outstanding service. Excellence includes all those qualities, but is ultimately the measure of how diligently we live out our faith through our vocation.
We expect excellent work to be rewarded with greater profitability. When we serve God’s kingdom with excellence, we see five additional benefits, beyond the bottom line.
First, excellent work advances God’s intentions for the flourishing of the world. When a pharmaceutical company ensures the highest quality product, the health of the community improves. When a landscaping crew cultivates exceptionally lush greenery, people are refreshed by God’s creation. When morning coffee is served with efficiency and a friendly greeting, the workday starts with fresh energy and ripples of good will. The more we invest in great work, the greater its impact.
A second benefit of the pursuit of excellence is building strong, motivated teams. Superlative companies inspire pride and dedication in their employees—not only to do their best work individually, but to function well together. Regardless of their status, each employee is valued for their contribution to improving performance. Leaders see the potential for excellence within each person created in God’s image, and build a team culture that brings out the best in one another.
Thus excellence builds trust—an essential thread in the fabric of civil society, as well as any successful enterprise. Attentiveness to quality in our work signals that we can be counted on in other arenas as well. Jesus tells a parable about a man who entrusted his wealth to his servants (Matt. 25:14-30). To the servants who invested well, the master declared: “Well done! … You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things!” Excellence and the trust that it earns can enlarge the scope of our influence.
In this parable, the faithful servants are also told: “Come and share your master’s happiness!” This points to the fourth benefit of excellence: work well done brings joy. If we are crafted by God to do good work (Eph. 2:10), then mastering our craft brings a deep satisfaction. The Olympic runner Eric Liddell expressed this sense of shared delight in his famous declaration: “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
Last but not least, excellent work is a testimony to Christ. Chick-fil-A, to name a familiar example, is transparent about the connection between their commitment to exceptional service and their corporate mission, “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.” Greatness can open doors to share about our faith, as others naturally want to know more about how and why we maintain our high standards. This invites our opportunity to respond: “I work for Christ and His Kingdom.”
Seeking first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), we are driven to seek excellence to achieve God’s purposes. Partnering with God through our work demands our best effort, and brings rewards beyond the bottom line!
Adapted from Vocational Discipleship: A Guide to Equipping People for Kingdom Purpose in their Work (forthcoming)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Tom Lutz
Tom Currently facilitates two Convene Groups in the Atlanta area. With his unique background, Tom guides client companies in the development of strategic plans and implementation designed to ensure the realization of their visions.
To learn more and connect with Tom, view his profile or connect with him here.
Heidi Unruh
Heidi Unruh offers missional training, consulting and coaching. She has helped develop a variety of practical resources for churches, including a faith & work study curriculum. Books she has co-authored include Churches That Make a Difference; Hope for Children in Poverty; and The Salt & Light Guidebook. She has a Masters in Theological Studies from Palmer Seminary, and resides in Hutchinson, KS.