How to Manifest Excellence!
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How to Manifest Excellence!
How to Manifest Excellence!
How to Manifest Excellence!
People who enjoy and feel fulfilled in their work have one thing in common, they fuse their “must do” with their joy of “getting to do.” The more we see our work as an opportunity to live out our calling, the more purpose and joy we will have in working the right way!
Why is it that some people find great joy in their work regardless of their circumstances?
People who enjoy and are fulfilled in their work have one thing in common, they fuse their “must do” with their joy of “getting to do.”
Must do’s - Tasks we all have to do by following certain rules, regulations, standards and ways to be excellent in our jobs
Get to do’s - Opportunities to do work that is an enormous privilege
The more we see our work as an opportunity to live out our calling, the more purpose and joy we will have in working the right way!
NFL quarterback, Philip Rivers, when asked about a difficult challenge once said, “Are you kidding me? I get paid to play a kids game!”
What if we all had this approach to our work? Of course, we don’t play football for a living, but we all can approach our leadership and work this way. You see, Philip Rivers does not just approach football this way, he approaches all of life this way.
Rivers said this statement before he retired the first time when reporters were challenging him on something difficult. I knew he meant it because I had the joy of getting to know him and seeing him approach everything in life this way.
It does not matter if he's caring for his 10 children, teaching math, coaching, helping a friend or playing the game he loves. He approaches life including all of the “have to do’s” as a great joy and privilege to be able to do them.
Philip’s deep faith in Jesus guides everything he does.
Rivers was recently called back to the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts after 5 years of retirement at the age of 44. Before he started, the Colts leadership felt like he could do this because he was still throwing everyday with kids as the coach of his son’s varsity football team in Fairhope, Alabama.
They knew he still loved the game!
In the return to the Colts, he faced opposition and even ridicule. He relished the opportunity. He did not win a game in his 3 games back, but here are some of the things he had to say about the opportunity.
“It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks and if I go back now and said, ‘All right, now you know everything that’s going to happen, what are you going to do?' I’d do it all again…So, yeah, if it’s the last one, it’s the last one. I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo (in January 2021), walking up that tunnel and I was fine with that. I had tears those few days after that and I was at peace with that being the last one. So, certainly, if it is (the last one), I got three more bonus games that I never saw coming.”
“You know, maybe it will inspire or teach others not to be scared of what may or may not happen, hopefully. You know, certainly, I think of my sons and those ball players that I’ve been in charge of at the school, they will see…Coach wasn’t scared. There is doubt and it is real…the guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not to go for it and the other is, shoot lets see what happens!”- Philip Rivers
You see, Philip’s life motto is “nunc coepi.” He enjoys the opportunity to start — to start over — to begin again. He knows the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and God is offering do-overs again and again.
What About Work off the Field?
I recently had the privilege of spending time with the Executive Chairman of one of the top companies in the world and what struck me about him most was his joy of knowing and doing the most detailed work. He is incredibly knowledgeable — a master of details — of everything he is involved in, but even more striking is that he actually loves to do the work many would find mundane or laborious. He prepared our meal intricately — cutting, organizing, mixing and then even cleaning the dishes
We went hunting and he did every hard task to make the hunt safe and enjoyable for the guests. Including riding on the front of the boat, reaching into the cold water on a 20° day to pick up the ducks in the cold water with his hands. He does everything with excellence no matter how difficult the task and he loves the work!
One of the most joyful people I have ever known was the late Tim Johnson, who was a janitor at Presbyterian Day School. He did his job with incredible excellence and great joy. While scraping trays and mopping floors, he would sing with the boys. He made the school cleaner, safer and more joyful. It’s no surprise he was also a pastor. He cared for staff and the boys as well as anyone and did everything with excellence.
AI understands and so should you. My AI assistant Claude compares and contrasts someone who strives to prove themselves and earn their acceptance with someone who manifests joy at work. Read the synopses here.
The Challenge to Joyful Excellence
Right after Jesus tells his followers to be salt and light, He issues one of the most challenging, yet clarifying, set of commands in existence.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” - [.no-reftag]Matthew 5:17-20[.no-reftag]
Impossible?!
Jesus clarifies that keeping the law is still vitally important to God even though He made clear that we are invited into the Kingdom of God through grace, mercy, forgiveness and love.
Jesus makes clear we are completely accountable to keep the law and to communicate the law clearly to others. And, that we must keep the law with excellence and righteousness that exceeds the religious leaders. Impossible in so many ways!
Impossible Without Jesus
To make the impossible possible, surrender to the One who made you and produces the ability to work this way:
[.text-color-blue]Remember who you are.[.text-color-blue]
Your identity is in Christ. God chose you before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Don’t forget who you are.
[.text-color-blue]You are a friend of God.[.text-color-blue]
Jesus defined friendship by laying down his life for us (John 15:13). He endured the cross and the shame for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)!
Jesus’ most difficult, laborious work included unfashionable suffering, but He did it with joy because He knew the outcome of what it did for us. Jesus suffered and died — fulfilling the law completely for us to become close to Him — to make us a friend of God.
Jesus is your friend and your greatest partner — best companion — at work.
[.text-color-blue]It’s not up to you.[.text-color-blue]
The worst way to approach work is “If it's to be, it's up to me.” This is not only terrible theology, but it's also the mindset that leads to bitterness and anxiety in your work.
If you believe your performance drives your acceptance at work you will burn out. If you believe your religious performance enables your acceptance with God, you are on a dead end road.
Tim Keller explains it this way,
“One of the main points of the New Testament is, you're never going to get Christianity unless you see that it is something utterly different than religion. Not only that, it's not just a key to understanding Christianity.
Christianity is vastly beyond. It surpasses religion. It's something utterly different than religion.
The key is Jesus says, if you want to be in the Kingdom of Heaven, there's a gospel goodness that vastly surpasses religious righteousness.
How does it surpass?
Gospel goodness surpasses religious righteousness in four ways. It's brighter because it's deeper. It's deeper because it's sweeter.
It's sweeter because it's higher. Gospel goodness surpasses because it's brighter and deeper and sweeter and higher.”
[.text-color-blue]Not my will, but Your will be done.[.text-color-blue]
Jesus has provided life, forgiveness, grace, mercy and love that is available to us. As we accept His offer of life, we become more and more like Him. That’s His invitation to follow Him (Matthew 4:19) and become like Him (1 John 3:2-3).
“That is what our Lord has been saying. We are children of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Because of that, we have to manifest the characteristics of such people. We do this in order to manifest His glory, and so that others may be brought to glorify Him.” - Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones
The invitation and joyful opportunity we all have is to manifest the glory of Jesus at work by doing extraordinary things — excellent work that blesses others that leads to Jesus.
[.text-color-blue] How do we manifest excellence with joy at work for God?[.text-color-blue]
- Work for the glory of God; not for yourself or even your family.
- Bless the people you serve intentionally.
- Embrace the companionship of working alongside Jesus and with your coworkers simultaneously.
- Consider yourself a kingdom builder and your work as being completely useful to the person in front of you in this life and the next.
[.text-color-blue] Working this way makes you become more like Jesus as your manifest His Glory![.text-color-blue]
Resources:
Video: Philip Rivers Inspires
Video: The Advantage of Distinctive Clarity at Work | Howard Graham
Article: A Good Job for Life | Howard Graham
Article: How to Teach | Howard Graham
Sermon: The Inside Out Kingdom | Timothy Keller
Sermon: Salt and Light | Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Video: The Advantage of High Standards & Demanding Work | Howard Graham
Why is it that some people find great joy in their work regardless of their circumstances?
People who enjoy and are fulfilled in their work have one thing in common, they fuse their “must do” with their joy of “getting to do.”
Must do’s - Tasks we all have to do by following certain rules, regulations, standards and ways to be excellent in our jobs
Get to do’s - Opportunities to do work that is an enormous privilege
The more we see our work as an opportunity to live out our calling, the more purpose and joy we will have in working the right way!
NFL quarterback, Philip Rivers, when asked about a difficult challenge once said, “Are you kidding me? I get paid to play a kids game!”
What if we all had this approach to our work? Of course, we don’t play football for a living, but we all can approach our leadership and work this way. You see, Philip Rivers does not just approach football this way, he approaches all of life this way.
Rivers said this statement before he retired the first time when reporters were challenging him on something difficult. I knew he meant it because I had the joy of getting to know him and seeing him approach everything in life this way.
It does not matter if he's caring for his 10 children, teaching math, coaching, helping a friend or playing the game he loves. He approaches life including all of the “have to do’s” as a great joy and privilege to be able to do them.
Philip’s deep faith in Jesus guides everything he does.
Rivers was recently called back to the NFL by the Indianapolis Colts after 5 years of retirement at the age of 44. Before he started, the Colts leadership felt like he could do this because he was still throwing everyday with kids as the coach of his son’s varsity football team in Fairhope, Alabama.
They knew he still loved the game!
In the return to the Colts, he faced opposition and even ridicule. He relished the opportunity. He did not win a game in his 3 games back, but here are some of the things he had to say about the opportunity.
“It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks and if I go back now and said, ‘All right, now you know everything that’s going to happen, what are you going to do?' I’d do it all again…So, yeah, if it’s the last one, it’s the last one. I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo (in January 2021), walking up that tunnel and I was fine with that. I had tears those few days after that and I was at peace with that being the last one. So, certainly, if it is (the last one), I got three more bonus games that I never saw coming.”
“You know, maybe it will inspire or teach others not to be scared of what may or may not happen, hopefully. You know, certainly, I think of my sons and those ball players that I’ve been in charge of at the school, they will see…Coach wasn’t scared. There is doubt and it is real…the guaranteed safe bet is to go home or not to go for it and the other is, shoot lets see what happens!”- Philip Rivers
You see, Philip’s life motto is “nunc coepi.” He enjoys the opportunity to start — to start over — to begin again. He knows the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and God is offering do-overs again and again.
What About Work off the Field?
I recently had the privilege of spending time with the Executive Chairman of one of the top companies in the world and what struck me about him most was his joy of knowing and doing the most detailed work. He is incredibly knowledgeable — a master of details — of everything he is involved in, but even more striking is that he actually loves to do the work many would find mundane or laborious. He prepared our meal intricately — cutting, organizing, mixing and then even cleaning the dishes
We went hunting and he did every hard task to make the hunt safe and enjoyable for the guests. Including riding on the front of the boat, reaching into the cold water on a 20° day to pick up the ducks in the cold water with his hands. He does everything with excellence no matter how difficult the task and he loves the work!
One of the most joyful people I have ever known was the late Tim Johnson, who was a janitor at Presbyterian Day School. He did his job with incredible excellence and great joy. While scraping trays and mopping floors, he would sing with the boys. He made the school cleaner, safer and more joyful. It’s no surprise he was also a pastor. He cared for staff and the boys as well as anyone and did everything with excellence.
AI understands and so should you. My AI assistant Claude compares and contrasts someone who strives to prove themselves and earn their acceptance with someone who manifests joy at work. Read the synopses here.
The Challenge to Joyful Excellence
Right after Jesus tells his followers to be salt and light, He issues one of the most challenging, yet clarifying, set of commands in existence.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” - [.no-reftag]Matthew 5:17-20[.no-reftag]
Impossible?!
Jesus clarifies that keeping the law is still vitally important to God even though He made clear that we are invited into the Kingdom of God through grace, mercy, forgiveness and love.
Jesus makes clear we are completely accountable to keep the law and to communicate the law clearly to others. And, that we must keep the law with excellence and righteousness that exceeds the religious leaders. Impossible in so many ways!
Impossible Without Jesus
To make the impossible possible, surrender to the One who made you and produces the ability to work this way:
[.text-color-blue]Remember who you are.[.text-color-blue]
Your identity is in Christ. God chose you before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Don’t forget who you are.
[.text-color-blue]You are a friend of God.[.text-color-blue]
Jesus defined friendship by laying down his life for us (John 15:13). He endured the cross and the shame for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)!
Jesus’ most difficult, laborious work included unfashionable suffering, but He did it with joy because He knew the outcome of what it did for us. Jesus suffered and died — fulfilling the law completely for us to become close to Him — to make us a friend of God.
Jesus is your friend and your greatest partner — best companion — at work.
[.text-color-blue]It’s not up to you.[.text-color-blue]
The worst way to approach work is “If it's to be, it's up to me.” This is not only terrible theology, but it's also the mindset that leads to bitterness and anxiety in your work.
If you believe your performance drives your acceptance at work you will burn out. If you believe your religious performance enables your acceptance with God, you are on a dead end road.
Tim Keller explains it this way,
“One of the main points of the New Testament is, you're never going to get Christianity unless you see that it is something utterly different than religion. Not only that, it's not just a key to understanding Christianity.
Christianity is vastly beyond. It surpasses religion. It's something utterly different than religion.
The key is Jesus says, if you want to be in the Kingdom of Heaven, there's a gospel goodness that vastly surpasses religious righteousness.
How does it surpass?
Gospel goodness surpasses religious righteousness in four ways. It's brighter because it's deeper. It's deeper because it's sweeter.
It's sweeter because it's higher. Gospel goodness surpasses because it's brighter and deeper and sweeter and higher.”
[.text-color-blue]Not my will, but Your will be done.[.text-color-blue]
Jesus has provided life, forgiveness, grace, mercy and love that is available to us. As we accept His offer of life, we become more and more like Him. That’s His invitation to follow Him (Matthew 4:19) and become like Him (1 John 3:2-3).
“That is what our Lord has been saying. We are children of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Because of that, we have to manifest the characteristics of such people. We do this in order to manifest His glory, and so that others may be brought to glorify Him.” - Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones
The invitation and joyful opportunity we all have is to manifest the glory of Jesus at work by doing extraordinary things — excellent work that blesses others that leads to Jesus.
[.text-color-blue] How do we manifest excellence with joy at work for God?[.text-color-blue]
- Work for the glory of God; not for yourself or even your family.
- Bless the people you serve intentionally.
- Embrace the companionship of working alongside Jesus and with your coworkers simultaneously.
- Consider yourself a kingdom builder and your work as being completely useful to the person in front of you in this life and the next.
[.text-color-blue] Working this way makes you become more like Jesus as your manifest His Glory![.text-color-blue]
Resources:
Video: Philip Rivers Inspires
Video: The Advantage of Distinctive Clarity at Work | Howard Graham
Article: A Good Job for Life | Howard Graham
Article: How to Teach | Howard Graham
Sermon: The Inside Out Kingdom | Timothy Keller
Sermon: Salt and Light | Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Video: The Advantage of High Standards & Demanding Work | Howard Graham