An Inheritance Wealthy Of Excellence

Colossians 1:10-12, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” (NIV)



Devotion:

Would you say that you are currently serving the Lord in such a way that you are qualified to receive the eternal inheritance that God has waiting for you? In my years of ministry, I have recurrently heard a saying that I believe still rings true today: “quality over quantity.” That’s right. We as women tend to be so consumed with marking off the many tasks on our to-do list that we forget sometimes all that is needed is a little bit of timely investment in a few things, giving excellence to them.



God’s Word is clear that we are to run the race of the Christian life with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1) and as if we are going for the gold (1 Corinthians 9:24). I have found that many women are pros at the long distance part of personal ministry (because naturally, we love to talk and be relational), but not necessarily the excellence part of ministry. Here’s a little story about one man who didn’t realize the impact of excellence in his work until he finished the job.



A carpenter who was known for his beautiful craftsmanship spent his life building exquisite homes. He paid great attention to the details of his work. When it came time for him to retire, his boss asked if he would build one last home as a special favor.



The carpenter reluctantly agreed. Never had his tired hands ached so, as once again he sawed and hammered. His heart was no longer in his job. He rushed through his work, using inferior materials and paying little attention to detail. No one will probably even notice, he reasoned. He just wanted to finish the job and get on with enjoying his retirement.



Finally the house was completed. But his boss had one last request – for the carpenter to meet him at the house to sign some final papers. When they met, the boss shocked the carpenter by handing him the keys to the house, his retirement gift. Oh, if he had only known, he would have done his best work.



So it is with us. Everyday we choose our lumber and nails, as we build our lives. If we build wisely, we establish friendships and mentoring relationships that will endure. However, if we use haphazard methods and just enough effort to make do, we’ll never experience the full richness of those relationships. God created us to need others, especially other women, who understand the pulls and strains of trying to be godly wives, mothers, and friends. And God created us to give to others from the knowledge and insights He has provided us. Such a gift is highly personal and greatly prized.



One day our Master Carpenter will ask to meet with us. He’ll hand us the keys to our eternal home that by His grace has been built for us. We cannot build it for ourselves because it has already been prepared by the hands of the Lord before time. Yet we can strive toward excellence in building relationships to expand our Heavenly home for the Glory of Him who made it possible for us to live eternally. In serving Him and stretching our borders, we are able to store up treasures – lives – that moth and rust do not destroy. Do you qualify for heavenly retirement?



My Prayer for Today:

Dear Jesus, forgive me for slacking off on the quality of my work for Your kingdom. I confess that I’ve been more concerned with the number of good deeds and relationships I have in my life than I’ve been with the quality of those deeds and relationships. Help me to take the steps necessary to make the most of each ministry opportunity, relationship, and act of service so they might be highly effective for You.



Application Steps:

Take a few moments to jot down the things on your to-do list today. What all does it include?
Do you make time for special relationships in your life? Do they have a time slot?
Before getting together with your spouse, a child, or a friend, do you think about the kinds of things you want to talk with them about? What will the content of your conversation include?
Having “fellowship” with other people entails that your time together involves the discussion and/or celebration of spiritual matters. It is coming together in the name of the Lord. How can you improve the quality of this time so that it has meaningful biblical purpose?


Reflection Points:

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Did you know that you have been given the tools of an expert builder to construct God’s kingdom? Just like the story of the three little pigs, the work we do and the relationships we have in this life will be shown for what they really are. Just as the big bad wolf was able to blow on each of the houses to test the quality of their design, so does God use fire to describe His way of testing the Christian life we now live. Only gold and precious stones can survive the heat of a blazing fire. If you haven’t already done so, consider the following:

Perhaps it’s time to start viewing each person we encounter as a piece of gold or a precious gem. God views them in this way and gives His attention to the detail and construct of who they are, and He desires no less from us.
Make the time you have with them count. Be invested in who they are as people, but also be invested in speaking God’s Word to them.
Verbally let them know you care and are praying for them. Actions speak louder than words, but sometimes people need to hear a word of encouragement to be spurred on.
Battle the drain and struggle with personal investment by creating boundaries during your time together as well as not booking too many “get togethers” within the same week.
Schedule in time to give yourself space for rejuvenation. Quality time can be an exhausting investment, so you will need to recharge your batteries often.
Remember that the extra effort is worth the eternal outcome!


Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 4:1, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” (NIV)



Luke 6:47-49, “I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on a rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (NIV)



Matthew 6:20, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NIV)