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HELEN SANDERS
5-24-2022
A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE
Having been in the furniture business for years and the thrift shop business, I have learned that people often are pack rats. They save things that they think they are going to need sometime in the future, but often that “thing” is never used and ends up being donated.
Some of the things donated to our thrift shop were never identified. We had no clue what they were. One bag that came in had a dead rat in it. I doubt that the person that donated it knew it was in there because the stuff had been bagged up for a long time. Useless items that had no real value ended up in the dumpster. Broken and chipped dishes that someone thought were valuable were discarded rather than put out for sale.
Donating things is often one way of purging our homes of useless items. We think someone might want that ripped shirt or torn clothing. People often think, “Well something to wear is better than nothing.” It becomes a way of life for many, but we always chose to get rid of what I would call junk. We got a lot of beautiful clothing in and donated bags and bags of it to other ministries, but we never sent junk.
This goes to show how people truly are. God gave his absolute best when he sent Jesus. Jesus was one of a kind and his price was invaluable. He gave his best – by giving his life’s blood for you and me. This example is how each of us should live. When we do anything or give anything it should be the best, not the leftover junk.
Whether it be the time we give, or our work we do, it should always be the best. We are taught to bring the tithes and offerings into the house of the Lord. It isn’t just money my friends. It is the first of everything. The cream of the crop so to speak. The best we have. The first fruits of everything belongs to God.
Somehow, we have lost a sense of excellence in the church. We put a little something in the offering plate and feel that we have done our duty. If what we do is out of duty, then God isn’t pleased. In II Corinthians 2:6-8 it says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly (not just money) shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” God loves it when we give our best cheerfully!
The next verse, verse 8, sums it up in our giving. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
By giving our best in a spirit of excellence God makes his grace (which is not deserved) abound towards us. Whatever we give, be it time, love, kindness, offerings and whatever else, let us always give our best. Then God will do the rest.
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