Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 (NIV)
A good friend of mine seems to constantly find himself being asked to serve the “kings” of our present age. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known and totally dedicated to excellence. Paying attention to detail, he labors diligently and is continually working to improve himself. Consequently, his hard work is often recognized and rewarded. He is truly a standout in his chosen profession and is constantly being asked to serve on Boards and to speak to his fellow colleagues.
I’m sure all of you know someone like this as well. People who have been very focused and dedicated to achieving excellence in their work. We are drawn to them and want to learn everything we can about how they became so successful. Hopefully something they say or do will provide us with that little bit of extra motivation to improve our own performance.
My friend does not look for accolades or seek rewards for his work. He truly does his work with excellence as working for the Lord, not for man. But make no mistake, men notice someone who is skilled in their work and new opportunities usually come their way. When these new opportunites present themselves, lets see them as a chance to have a greater and broader impact for the Kingdom.
Lord, we want to do whatever you have called us to do with excellence. Help us to be focused and to train ourselves in order to become highly skilled workers. If you bless us with new opportunies as a result of our hard work, let us use those wisely, seeking first how we can have a greater impact for the Kingdom. Amen.
