EXCELLENCE FOR HIS GLORY

Integrity — Service Before Self — Excellence in All We Do

I served nearly twelve years in the United States Air Force, and during those years three core values were continually impressed upon us:

Integrity First. Service Before Self. Excellence in All We Do.

Those words weren't supposed to be a slogan hanging on a wall. They described the standard by which an airman was expected to conduct himself.

Years later, as I look at those three values through the lens of Scripture, I realize something:

Those are profoundly biblical principles.

In fact, Christians have an infinitely greater reason to live by them.

An airman represents his service and his country.

A Christian represents Jesus Christ.

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ...”— 2 Corinthians 5:20

That means the things we do either bring glory to Christ—or they don't.

The way we approach our day.

The quality of our work.

Whether we keep our word.

Whether we arrive when we said we would.

How we treat people.

How we serve when nobody notices.

Whether we give our best or merely do enough to get by.

All of it says something about the One whose name we bear.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”— 1 Corinthians 10:31

Notice the words:

“Whatsoever ye do.”

Christianity isn't something we turn on Sunday morning and turn off Monday morning.

If I belong to Jesus Christ, then everything I do ought to be approached with one question:

Does the way I am doing this bring glory to Him?

1. INTEGRITY FIRST — WHO ARE YOU WHEN NOBODY IS WATCHING?

The first Air Force core value is: Integrity First.

The Bible said it long before the Air Force did:

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them...”— Proverbs 11:3

Integrity means I don't need somebody standing over me to make me do right.

Joseph had integrity when nobody but God would have known.

Daniel maintained his integrity when compromise would have made life considerably easier.

Paul wrote:

“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”— 2 Corinthians 8:21

Integrity means my word means something.

If I tell somebody I will do something, I should do it.

If I borrow something, I should return it.

If I make a commitment, I should honour it.

And if I make an appointment for 9:00, I shouldn't be strolling through the door at 9:05.

I should be there early.

Why?

Because somebody else's time matters too.

Being habitually late often communicates, whether we intend it or not, that our time is more important than theirs.

The Christian ought to develop a reputation for reliability.

If he said he'll be there, he'll be there.

If he said he'll do it, he'll do it.

If he gave you his word, you can depend upon it.

That is integrity.

2. SERVICE BEFORE SELF — WHEN SERVICE BECOMES INCONVENIENT

The second Air Force value is: Service Before Self.

Here Christianity becomes uncomfortable.

Because much of what we call Christian service today might better be described as service of convenience.

We'll serve—as long as it fits our schedule.

We'll give—as long as we have plenty left over.

We'll help—as long as it doesn't inconvenience us.

We'll go—as long as it isn't too far.

We'll sacrifice—as long as the sacrifice doesn't cost very much.

But convenient Christianity knows very little about biblical sacrifice.

One day Jesus sat watching people put money into the treasury.

Many wealthy people came.

And they gave.

That shouldn't be overlooked.

They really did give.

But then a poor widow walked forward.

Jesus said:

“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”— Mark 12:44

There was the difference.

They gave what they could afford to give.

She gave what cost her something.

Their giving affected the treasury.

Her giving affected her.

David understood that kind of service:

“...neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”— 2 Samuel 24:24

Sometimes serving Christ will cost us sleep.

Sometimes it will cost money.

Sometimes it will cost comfort.

Sometimes it will interfere with our plans.

Sometimes somebody will need us at an inconvenient time.

Sometimes God will put an opportunity before us that doesn't fit neatly into our schedule.

And there comes the test:

Am I serving Christ—or am I serving convenience?

If convenience determines how far I am willing to go for Christ, then convenience has become the lord of my service.

3. EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO — “GO WITH HIM TWAIN”

The third Air Force core value is: Excellence in All We Do.

Jesus gave a remarkable principle that fits perfectly here:

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”— Matthew 5:41

Go with him twain.

Don't merely do what is required.

Go farther.

Don't merely meet the minimum standard.

Exceed it.

Don't ask:

“What is the least I have to do?”

Ask:

“What more can I do?”

That is the second-mile Christian.

If you're expected to arrive at 9:00, arrive early.

If you're asked to clean something, don't merely clean the obvious part—leave it better than you found it.

If you're given a responsibility, don't make somebody chase you to find out whether you completed it.

If somebody asks for help and you can reasonably do more than they requested, go with them twain.

If you're preparing something for the Lord, don't stop when it is merely “good enough.”

Give Him your best.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”— Colossians 3:23

Those last words change everything:

“As to the Lord.”

What if Jesus Christ Himself were the one receiving the work you just completed?

Would you still say:

“That's good enough”?

Would you still arrive late?

Would you still leave the job half-finished?

Would you still take the shortcut?

Would you still give the bare minimum?

The Christian standard isn't perfection.

God doesn't demand an ability He hasn't given us.

But there is a tremendous difference between I couldn't do better and I couldn't be bothered doing better.

The issue is not whether your best looks like somebody else's best.

The issue is:

Did you give God yours?

4. IT IS A SERIOUS THING TO KNOWINGLY GIVE LESS THAN YOUR BEST

I believe there is a biblical principle here that Christians sometimes overlook.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”— James 4:17

If I know how something ought to be done...

If I have the ability to do it properly...

If I have been given the time and opportunity...

And I deliberately choose laziness, carelessness, or mediocrity...

How does that glorify Christ?

Sometimes we excuse things spiritually that we would never tolerate professionally.

Late again.

Forgot again.

Didn't prepare.

Didn't follow through.

Didn't give our best.

Didn't bother because nobody was checking.

And then we attach the Lord's name to it.

That ought to bother us.

Because:

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...”— Colossians 3:17

If I am putting His name on something, His name deserves my best.

5. JESUS CHRIST WAS A SECOND-MILE SAVIOUR

And then I think about Jesus Christ Himself.

He never demonstrated half-hearted service.

He didn't merely talk about going the second mile.

He lived it.

When people interrupted Him, He ministered to them.

When multitudes followed Him into inconvenient places, He had compassion upon them.

When His disciples wanted to send the multitude away, Christ fed them.

When a ruler asked Him to come because his daughter was dying, Jesus arose and went.

When a suffering woman touched His garment along the way, He stopped for her too.

He noticed people others overlooked.

He touched people others avoided.

He gave time to people others considered unimportant.

Again and again Christ demonstrated something that ought to characterize His people:

He did more than the minimum.

And ultimately, He went all the way to Calvary.

“...Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”— Ephesians 5:25

Christianity was never built upon convenience.

It was built upon sacrifice.

6. WHAT DOES THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE SAY ABOUT MY GOD?

A Christian sweeping a floor can glorify Jesus Christ.

A mechanic turning a wrench can glorify Jesus Christ.

A secretary answering a telephone can glorify Jesus Christ.

A mother caring for her children can glorify Jesus Christ.

A missionary handing somebody a gospel tract can glorify Jesus Christ.

A preacher preparing a message can glorify Jesus Christ.

A man showing up for work on Monday morning can glorify Jesus Christ.

Because excellence isn't primarily about what you're doing.

It is about Who you're doing it for.

The world ought to know that when a Christian takes responsibility for something, he will do everything within his ability to do it properly.

Not because we're trying to impress men.

Not because we're seeking applause.

Not because we're trying to prove we're better than somebody else.

Because we represent Jesus Christ.

THREE QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING EVERY MORNING

After nearly twelve years in the United States Air Force, those three core values are still deeply familiar to me.

But today I see an even greater application for them.

INTEGRITY FIRST

Will I do right even when nobody is watching?

SERVICE BEFORE SELF

Will I still serve when serving costs me something?

EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO

Will I merely do what is required—or will I “go with him twain”?

Because Christians shouldn't be known as people who merely do enough to get by.

We ought to be the people who arrive early.

Who stay when necessary.

Who keep our word.

Who finish what we start.

Who notice what still needs doing.

Who don't have to be continually reminded.

Who serve when it isn't convenient.

Who give when giving costs something.

Who don't ask, “What's the minimum?”

But rather:

“What can I do that will bring the greatest glory to Jesus Christ?”

“...that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ...”— 1 Peter 4:11

I once wore a uniform that reminded me:

Integrity. Service Before Self. Excellence in All We Do.

Those values helped shape the kind of airman I was expected to be.

But today I bear a far greater name than the name that was written over my uniform.

I bear the name of Jesus Christ.

And if excellence was expected while representing my country, how much more should I desire it when representing my Saviour?

Don't merely go the mile.

Go with him twain.

Don't merely give what doesn't cost you anything.

Give sacrificially.

Don't merely do enough.

Give Him your best.

Because at the end of the day, there is one question that matters above all the others:

DID THE WAY I LIVED TODAY BRING GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST?