Will anything we do today in the physical world matter in eternity?  Consider the vision of the eternal kingdom shared by John and Isaiah.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband (Rev. 21:1-2, NIV).

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it (Rev. 21:24, 26).

And they will reign for ever and ever. (Rev. 22:5)

²¹ They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. ²²….my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. ²³ They will not labor in vain… (Isaiah 65:21-23).

These passages, along with others, describe a future that is much different from what we often imagine when we think of heaven.  John sees heaven coming down to a new earth, one that has been purified by fire (see 2 Peter 3:10). He sees a massive city filled with the glory of the nations. Isaiah sees work and labor as a part of this wonderful future.  What does all of this have to do with our work today?

Our work today enters into eternity.  

John’s vision of a glorious city also includes the kings of the earth bringing their “splendor” into it. So, it appears that some of the splendor of this earth will somehow be carried into eternity! Isaiah, in 60:6-17, mentions camels, gold and incense, flocks, ships and wood that is brought to adorn God’s sanctuary. So, it appears that when our work reflects God’s goodness, justice, creativity, and care for people, something of that work may enter the new earth!

Some leaders work hard to build and create wealth with no thought of how it may impact eternity. But serving leaders work to develop the best art, craftsmanship, creativity and products that reflect God’s goodness. They seek to create “splendor” that will enter into eternity.

Our work today endures in eternity.

Isaiah’s vision of eternity includes people building houses, planting vineyards and working with their hands. The picture Scripture paints is not an eternity without work—but work without the curse! No frustration, no futility, no wasted effort, no sweat. Just the joy of creating, developing, and filling the earth with beauty and goodness.

Some leaders look forward to completing their work and live for the times they are not working. But serving leaders embrace work to glorify God, now and in eternity.

Our work today expands in eternity

John’s vision indicates that those in the new earth “will reign for ever and ever.”  This is the ultimate fulfillment of the original commission from Genesis 1:28 which we examined in a previous issue. While our current work partially fulfills this mandate, it will be fully expanded and realized in eternity. We will exercise authority and power free from sin—to fill the earth with God’s goodness.    

Some leaders sharpen their leadership capacity only for present success. But serving leaders develop their leadership muscles in preparation for eternal impact.  

Your work today matters! From creation to eternity, scripture consistently affirms the value of human work.   

For further reflection and discussion:

• What elements of my current work most fully express God’s beauty, creativity and goodness?  What would it be like to have something of what I have done here on earth brought to Him as a part of the “splendor of the nations”? How does that energize me to do my best in my work?  
• In what way would it be energizing to think of my current work continuing in eternity? Are there things that I have always dreamed of doing that I might be able to accomplish in eternity?
• In what ways am I developing my leadership capacity in my daily work?  How might God use these skills to allow me to rule in eternity? What more can I do to prepare for that time?
• Reflect on the following passages that provide more context to the principles we examined in this issue: Psalm 8:6;  Isaiah 60:6-17, 65:17-25; Daniel 7:27; Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 5:10, 21:1-21; and 22:1-5. 

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler 

If you would like a single document with all four issues from this series, click here for a PDF copy. 

*Many of the thoughts in this series come from Jordan Raynor’s book “The Sacredness of Secular Work,” which I highly recommend.

Your daily work matters because it reveals God’s Kingdom to the world! We have seen in previous issues that our work is an expression of God’s original commission and that our work is a calling from Him. Now consider these verses and their implications for your daily work: 

But thanks be to God, who … uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14, NIV).

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5:20).

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough (Matthew 13:33).

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:11).

These verses together show that Jesus came to establish and demonstrate His Kingdom, a new way of living and serving in the world. His Kingdom is a place where everything is being restored to the way things ought to be. It is a Kingdom of restored relationships, justice, beauty, and order. It is a place of safety and security, and where work is meaningful and rewarding. He chooses to spread His Kingdom through ordinary people doing their work for His glory! If this is true, how do we do this?

Our work reveals God’s Kingdom as we represent the King.

God uses us to spread the “aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” Does ‘everywhere’ include the place we work on a daily basis? Certainly! You are “Christ’s ambassadors” where you live and where you work. You represent Him in your “ordinary” leadership decisions—keeping your word, treating people respectfully, finishing the job with excellence, and caring for the people with whom you work.

Some leaders work to promote their own kingdom and agenda. But serving leaders see their work as visible revelation of the Kingdom of Jesus.

Our work reveals God’s Kingdom as we weed out what does not belong.

Our work can be a way to “expose the fruitless deeds of darkness” and root out what does not belong in the territory of the Kingdom. Your daily work may call out injustice, expose corruption or abuse, reveal inequality, refuse dishonest practices, or simply pick up the trash in a messy environment. You may confront unethical reporting or correct a misleading metric. Each action removes what does not belong and is a step towards revealing God’s Kingdom.  

Some leaders weed out only what does not increase profit with little thought to integrity. But serving leaders are willing to pay the price of exposing and removing anything that does not belong to the Kingdom of God.

Our work reveals God’s Kingdom as we plant what belongs. 

God’s Kingdom is revealed as we do what is right in every context. It is revealed as we treat workers as significant people, as we pay people fair wages, as we show concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of our team, and as we take care of the environment. Writers and musicians bring beauty to the world through art and songs; civic leaders promote laws and policies that promote justice and peace. These actions may seem small, but like yeast, they gradually influence everything around them. First one person, then another, then the community and beyond.

Some leaders plant what will produce profit. But serving leaders plant what belongs. Every serving leadership act is a revelation of a new Kingdom and reveals a bit of heaven’s glory on earth.   

For further reflection and discussion:

How does the reality that God entrusts me to be an ambassador for Him and to represent His Kingdom in my workplace impact my leadership?    Are there ways I have demonstrated that in the past week?    What will I do in the next week to better live out my calling to be His ambassador?

In what way does my work root out what does not belong in the world?   Are there additional ways I might be called to root out or expose injustice, discrimination, disorder, or disunity?

Reflect on ways that your work reveals the world as it should be by answering the following questions:

How does the way I treat people in my work reflect the Kingdom?

How does our service or product make the world a better place?  

How do we show respect for our environment?

How does our work promote peace and justice?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll look at how our work impacts eternity.

*Many of the thoughts in this series come from Jordan Raynor’s book “The Sacredness of Secular Work,” which I highly recommend.

What do you call what you do today? If you use words like “work”, “job”, “career” or “profession” you may miss the element of God’s call on your daily activity. But the word “vocation” conveys the idea of a calling and better reflects the biblical perspective. Whether you are a farmer, a plumber, a graphic designer, a computer engineer, a manufacturer, or an office worker, your work today matters because it reflects God’s calling for you. It is a sacred vocation, just as it was for two men called to build the tabernacle during the time of Moses. 

³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel…., ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab…, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers (Exodus 35:30-35, NIV).

These two men were called to do the work of building and furnishing the tabernacle.

Our vocation is a response to His call.

God called these two men for the special task of building the tabernacle. “See, The Lord has chosen Bezalel…and has filled him with the Spirit of God…” This calling to work in wood, metal and stones was just as genuine as God’s calling to Moses to lead the people. There are eight distinct skills mentioned in these verses, each reflecting God’s creativity through human work. We could add a long list of the many ways God calls people to fulfill His commission to “fill the earth” introduced in the previous issue.

Some leaders see their daily work as a reflection of the choices they have made about their careers. But serving leaders see their work as a response to God’s call on their lives. 

Our vocation is a reflection of His excellence.

God “filled them with skill” to do the work He called them to do. The tabernacle was to be a beautiful expression of God’s glory and He expected them to complete the work with excellence. When we view our daily work as a calling from God, we will want to do the best we can to reflect His excellence. Paul echoes this when he urges us to “work with your hands…so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Some leaders view their work as simply a way to earn an income and are not concerned about the quality of their efforts. But serving leaders seek to work with excellence because they see their work as a calling from God.

Our vocation is a response of worship to His glory

These craftsmen were “filled with the Spirit” to build a place of worship for God. Their skill and excellent work was also an act of worship! They were not just cutting wood and shaping stones, they were worshipping God through their work. When God calls us to a specific work and we do it for His glory, the work itself is an act of worship. The most mundane tasks become meaningful when they are offered as worship. Paul affirms this when he says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Some leaders work for themselves and focus on what they will gain from their efforts. But serving leaders see their work as an act of worship to God. 

For further reflection and discussion:

How clearly do I see my work as a calling from God?  Do I sense that God called me to my profession? How would it impact me to refer to my work as my “vocation”?

Is there any way that I see church leadership as more spiritual than other professions? In what way is my own work a “full time ministry” for God?

Do I consistently do the best work I can to bring honor to God? What would I change if He showed up tomorrow where I am working?

In what way is my daily work an act of worship? What could I do to be more aware of how my work is an offering of worship to God?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

In the next issue, we’ll examine how your work reveals God’s Kingdom.

 We saw in the previous issue that serving leaders recognize that the business* is not theirs, they are stewards. Yet, stewards are not passive bystanders, they are active participants in the work of building and growing an organization. They are called by God to shape the organization as indicated in these verses: 

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28, NIV).

[Leaders are] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12).

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

Serving leaders take these, and other scriptures, as their mandate to make things happen. God’s original mandate for humans was to “Be fruitful and increase…fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…” They are called to work hard with their whole heart in the place where God has allowed them to be a steward. Leaders are called to shape their worlds!

Serving leaders shape the organization by building a kingdom focus.

As stewards of a business or organization, serving leaders see their role as building the organization to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. They see their organization as contributing value to the world through the services and products that they offer. Builders create homes where people can live peacefully in safety and security. Bakers make food that sustains the lives of those they serve. Bankers provide opportunities for investments and financial stability. Every honorable profession is a part of God’s plan for a flourishing world! Some leaders are focused on building their own kingdoms, seeking to obtain wealth for themselves and their offspring. But serving leaders focus on a much larger picture. Serving leaders see their work as a small part of a much larger vision of what God is doing on the earth.  They craft a vision statement of how they bring value to the world. Their mission is focused on building and serving others. Their values reflect God’s heart for the way people should relate to each other. They build teams that demonstrate God’s purpose for the variety of strengths He has given. They delegate power and authority in ways that reflect God’s design for human development and flourishing.

Serving leaders shape the organization by building people.

Most leaders are focused on shaping the business or organization they are leading for success or profit. Serving leaders shape the organization by building people. They understand that as they build people and create a healthy culture the organization will grow and succeed. They see their primary role as “to equip” people for work. Serving leaders shape the organization with a focus on the people. 

Serving leaders shape the organization by building a culture of excellence.

Some leaders focus their organization towards profit and are willing to sacrifice quality when it appears to strengthen their bottom line. But serving leaders see themselves as stewards and all they do as an act of worship since they are “working for the Lord.” They honor God with the best product and service they can produce. They strive to create a culture in which people bring “their whole heart” to the task at hand.  They expect and reward excellence.   

Remember, it’s not your business! Serving leaders serve the organization by shaping it.  

For further reflection and discussion:

• How does my business or organization fit into God’s grand purposes for the
  world? How do our services/products make the world a better place? How
  effectively do I communicate this to the people inside and outside our
  organization?
• In what ways am I growing people in my organization? Do I provide salaries
  that allow people to grow and flourish? Do I align people with their own
  strengths and giftings? Am I continually delegating responsibility and
  authority that builds leadership capacity in my organization?
• How highly do we value excellence in the organization or team I lead? Are
  there areas in which we do not view our work as an act of worship to God and
  worthy of our best effort? How well does our work environment reflect God’s
  desire for beauty and order? What steps can I take this week to encourage and promote a culture of excellence?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

*Note: In this series we use “business” to apply to any type of organization whether for profit or non-profit. The principles of this series apply to for-profit enterprises, non-profits (such as churches or NGO’s) and any other domain of work and service.  In the next issue, we’ll look at how serving leaders serve the business.

Daniel correctly interpreted the handwriting on the wall only hours before a new ruler, Darius, overthrew the kingdom. Daniel was one of three highest leaders in the new government and lead with such excellence that the king was ready to promote him. This provoked jealousy among his colleagues and they tried in every way to find fault with Daniel. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God” (Daniel 6:3-5). Daniel led with such “exceptional qualities” that although they looked hard they couldn’t find anything wrong! Daniel’s faith was clearly evident in his work. Servant leaders can learn to lead with excellence in their vocation as Daniel did.

Daniel led with excellence by being trustworthy.

Daniel was worthy of the trust placed in him as a key leader of the nation. Kings trust very few people but Daniel earned his confidence by the life that he lived. Trust is earned by consistently displaying solid character for a long time. Without it, a leader cannot lead. Servant leaders earn the trust of those around them. Even Daniel’s enemies admitted that he was trustworthy.

Daniel led with excellence by resisting corruption.

Daniel lived and served in an empire known for corruption but his colleagues could not find any evidence of corruption in his leadership. Daniel certainly faced many opportunities to use his office for personal gain and many people were willing to pay for favors. But Daniel could not be bought or bribed. His expense accounts were accurate, his financial reports were clean. His decisions were not biased by finances. Servant leaders do not reflect their environment; they shape it as they resist corruption like Daniel.

Daniel led with excellence by not being negligent.

It would be very easy for Daniel to begin to enjoy the privileges of high office and spend his time eating and drinking at the expense of his duties. He had subordinates who could do the work while he relaxed. But Daniel did his job with excellence and didn’t neglect any aspect of his responsibilities. Servant leaders, whether in a high or low position, are willing to work hard and complete all aspects of their role with excellence.

Daniel led with excellence by revealing his faith.

Daniels’ enemies finally concluded that that the only way to bring him down was to make his faith illegal! They proceeded to change the law and the result was Daniel in the lion’s den. We often focus more on the story of the lions than the reasons he faced them. Daniel was thrown to the lions because the excellence of his work revealed his faith. Daniel was not preaching his faith in church; his life of faith was very evident in his workplace. Servant leaders express their faith in what they do every day; they put their faith to work!

We desperately need leaders like Daniel in every vocation and at every level of society, men and women who lead with excellence at what they do and whose only ‘fault’ is their faith in God. Let’s each renew our commitment to serve with excellence as we show our faith in how we work.

For further reflection and discussion:

• If my colleagues set out to try to find fault in my work, how long would it take them to find something wrong? What would they discover when they looked closely at how I spend my time, handle money, speak to others, represent my organization to others, treat junior staff, or talk about those in authority?
• In my vocation, how is corruption expressed? (Think of how people use position and power to influence wrongly. This may not always be with money.) In what ways am I personally most tempted to compromise my integrity?
• Is there any part of my role as a leader that is currently being neglected? Are there other things on which I am spending more time than I should which cause this task to be neglected? If so, what is God inviting me to do to complete this task?
• Is my commitment to Christ the only fault others can find with my life? If they went through all my possessions, checked my email accounts and computer history, dug through my financial records, checked my tax returns and talked to my neighbors, would they find anything for which I am to blame?

Servant leadership is an inside job, but it will show on the outside in the way we do our work in the marketplace. Daniel already demonstrated his character and ability to wisely appeal to authority, but he also demonstrates compentence in his service to the king. When it was time for the final exam, the king found ‘none equal’ to Daniel and his three Hebrew friends. They were rated “ten times better” than their conterparts (Daniel 1:19-20). At other points in Daniel’s story it is equally clear that he did outstanding work. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:3-4). Daniel was not a pastor or church leader; he was a government official and served in this ‘marketplace’ in a way that demonstrates how servant leaders influence in and through their vocations.

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their comprehension.

Daniel and his friends stood out from the rest because they had “wisdom and understanding” that was “ten times better” than the rest (Daniel 1:20). This knowledge was a gift from God (see 1:7), but they had also studied hard in three years of training and were now able to influence the nation because of their exceptional understanding. They knew their job well! Servant leaders recognize “the earth is the LORD’s” (Psalms 24:1) and their vocation is simply a place where God has called them to influence others for His purposes. They make an effort to be knowledge leaders in their field, learning all they can in an effort to better reflect God’s presence.They ask God for greater knowledge in their area of influence; not to impress others or advance their own cause, but to honor God in what they do. Farmers learn all they can about agriculture; business leaders seek to better understand leadership and the area of service in which God has placed them. Teachers continualy seek more effective methods of learning. When servant leaders excel, others are impacted and God is exalted. How well does your vocational knowledge glorify God?

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their character.

Even Daniel’s enemies could not identify a character flaw in his life. He was “trustworthy” and without “corruption.” This was all the more remarkable because he lived and served in Babylon, a city known for its corruption. The darker the place in which servant leaders work, the brighter their light of integrity shines. Daniel impacted his peers because of his character. How well does your character at work reflect God’s nature?

Servant leaders influence the marketplace with their care.

Daniel was not “negligent” in any aspect of his work. He was careful about his role and responsibilities. He paid attention to the details, fulfilling his role with excellence. Servant leaders are not careless; they focus on doing their very best to reflect God’s nature. How well does your attention to excellence in the marketplace influence others?

Lead like Daniel today in the place you are called to serve, your marketplace!

For further reflection and discussion:

Reflect on the three questions from the issue above. For each question, rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 and then indicate what steps you could take to increase your influence in that area.

• How well does your vocational knowledge glorify God?
• How well does your character at work reflect God’s nature?
• How well does your attention to excellence in the marketplace influence others?
• What Christian leader do you admire in your vocation and why? Take a minute to write a note or email of thanks to that person for their impact in your life.

Paul’s view of vocation has challenged us to see our work as a call to stewardship and a call to worship. Seeing vocation in this way leads to action and Paul is clear that servant leaders are called to work and to work well! “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). Paul calls all servant leaders to work with all your heart. This is a call to put our best effort and energy into the work we do. Servant leaders are called to work with excellence. Our thinking about work will impact the quality of our work.

Excellent work is focused.

Paul reminds servant leaders that we are to work with all our hearts as working for the Lord. Our focus is on the Lord, not on men. If our focus is on the people we work for or with, we will be disappointed sometimes when they don’t perform or reward us as we expected. If our focus is on our career, we might be disappointed when we don’t make the progress we desire. But when our focus is on God, we will be able to remember that we are called to this work and we are doing it for God’s glory. What a difference this will make in how we do what we do! Since we are working for Him we naturally want to do our work with excellence. Think about how you would work today if you knew the president of your nation was coming to visit tomorrow. You would naturally focus on doing your best for that occasion. Servant leaders work daily with the awareness that Jesus is the one looking at their work. They focus on doing their best because they are working for the creator of the universe!

Excellent work is fulfilling.

When we work with our whole hearts and do an excellent job we find deep fulfillment and satisfaction because we were created to work. Many leaders see work as a necessary evil but God called Adam and Eve to work before sin entered the world. From the beginning God intended for each of us to be co-workers with Him in the world He created. We are supposed to work hard to feed our families and to have to share with others. Work is good, and we all know the satisfaction of working hard and doing a good job! Servant leaders see their work as a calling and an act of worship so when they complete a task with excellence they recognize that they have brought glory to God. They are eager to sharpen their skills so that they become more and more excellent at what they do thereby bringing more glory to God.

Excellent work is fruitful.

Paul says that we will receive a reward from our efforts as we work with all our hearts. There are both natural and eternal rewards for servant leaders who work with excellence. When we work, we naturally expect to receive some form of payment for our labor. Farmers may actually see the ‘fruit’ of their labor but most leaders receive their fruit in the form of a salary or profit. We expect that excellent work will receive a greater reward than poor work. In addition to natural rewards, Paul makes it clear that our work will have an eternal reward. This implies that we will be rewarded in heaven for the work we have done for His glory and with excellence. It also implies that the work of servant leaders impacts the lives of those around them in ways that can change eternal destinies. Servant leaders are conscious that what they do with their hands is a reflection of the God they serve. They work with excellence to make God look good to those who are watching. Servant leaders bring people to Jesus as they work because of the way they work

Have a day filled with excellent work for the glory of God!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Read Genesis 1:26-28 and think about the origin of work. What was God’s original instruction to mankind? What does this passage teach about the value of our work? What impact did sin have on God’s plan?
• Read 1 Corinthians 4:12. How did Paul work and what does this imply for your vocation?
• How would you rate the quality of the work you do in light of Paul’s call to work with your whole heart? Are there changes you need to make in how you work as a result?
• Reflect on what the following scriptures teach about our work. Proverbs 14:23, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Proverbs 22:29, Deuteronomy 8:18 Write down what you learn from these verses.
• Does the way I work encourage people around me to follow Jesus? If not, what needs to change?

Servant leaders, like all great leaders, have a passion for excellence. However, their motive to lead with excellence is not simply for personal benefit or to increase financial revenue. Servant leaders lead with excellence because they have a passion to develop their own potential, to see others develop their potential and because of their desire to reflect God’s nature in their leadership. Paul challenges all of us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” (Col. 3:23). His call is a challenge to rise above mediocrity to a wholehearted pursuit of excellence wherever we lead. What is the result when servants lead with excellence?

Leading with excellence reflects the nature of God.

The God we serve is not a lukewarm, half-hearted, casual God. Whatever He does is the best and we are called to visibly express His nature in all we do.

This excellence is expressed in our vocations where we use the gifts and abilities God has given us for His glory. If that is in construction, build the best buildings possible. If it is in education, teach with a passion that produces excellence. If you are a pastor, be excellent! Martin Luther King Jr. expressed it well, “If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say, ‘Here lived a great sweeper, who swept his job well.’” As we lead and serve with excellence we reflect God’s very nature.

Leading with excellence inspires the best from followers.

Leaders who model excellence bring forth the best in their followers. Some leaders attempt to dictate good performance from followers and go to great lengths to measure this performance. But healthy leaders live and serve with excellence in a way that inspires others to also do their very best. Think about a leader that inspires you and reflect on what it is about their leadership that helps you to do better. Very likely they have a passion for excellence.

Leading with excellence increases results.

Positive results can be expected when we lead with excellence. Results may be measured in the ‘bottom line’ of financial profit in a business or in the maturity of disciples or community impact for a church. In any case, when we lead and work with excellence positive results normally follow. Given a choice between a mediocre product and an excellent one, which will you purchase? If you want to select a church, will you be attracted to one that doesn’t care how things are done or one where attention is given to excellence? It only makes sense that we are attracted to excellence and doing things God’s way works! For this reason even an unbelieving leader who pursues excellence will see increased results. What distinguishes the servant leader is the motive behind the commitment to excellence. The servant leader pursues excellence as a means to expand the rule of God in his/her sphere of influence.

A commitment to excellence is expressed in an unwavering dedication to growth and development. This will be the topic of our next issue.

For further reflection and discussion:

• Do I consistently model excellence in all I do?
• Does my leadership inspire excellence in others?
• What is my motive for the pursuit of excellence?
• What specific examples of excellence can others see in the organization I lead?
• How can I respond to the call to excellence while avoiding unhealthy perfectionism?