“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”
Daniel 6:3
Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude.
-Ralph Marston-
Excellence, according to the English Oxford Dictionary, is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. Excellence is a mark of distinction, brilliance and greatness. An excellent performer is an above average achiever. This one goes over and above what is expected to deliver exceptionally and distinctively well. Such was the character of Daniel.
Well, let’s learn from Daniel a couple of profound lessons. Daniel feared God and remained faithful to him. Daniel 1:8 records of his resolve to keep himself consecrated to God. It says, “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile (taint, dishonor) himself with the king’s finest food or with the wine which the king drank; so he asked the commander of the officials that he might [be excused so that he would] not defile himself.” Daniel was deliberate about honoring God with his life and conduct. He devotedly upheld the laws of Moses.
Daniel also highly regarded the place of prayer and communion with God. Daniel 6:10(b) says, “he continued to get down on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.” Daniel sought God constantly. It was something he had been doing. No wonder he was the best. His excellence was not a result of his human knowledge, expertise or diligent craft. His excellence was anchored in God. The spirit of God was inside of him, leading him and guiding him.
Michael Gerber in his writings rightly states it that, “The work we do is a reflection of who we are, if we are sloppy at it, it’s because we are sloppy inside. If we are late at it, it’s because we are late inside. If we are bored by it, it’s because we are bored inside, with ourselves, not with the work. The most menial work can be a piece of art when done by an artist. So the job here is not outside ourselves but inside ourselves. How we do our job becomes a mirror of how we are inside.”
“Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24. knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.”
Thank you very much. Happy new month too.