EXCELLENCE

The idea of being excellent is one that some people aspire to in their daily lives. They want to be the best at something and to have a degree of peer recognition. When asked why they desire to be the best, the general response is an innate desire to excel. Excellence is wired into our DNA. No one craves mediocrity. In fact, when excellence is pursued as a goal, individuals have been found to be much happier than when they accept mediocrity. The flow of adrenaline that accompanies the pursuit of excellence elevates the mood.

Excellence is a principle pursuit in Christianity. Throughout the Bible, God speaks of perfection and of running in such a way as to win the highest award. Mediocrity and lukewarmness are perceived as anathema to life. The lifeblood of a lukewarm or complacent person has a tendency to stagnate, which causes them to become susceptible to blood related ailments such as mononucleosis. God desires that we aim for perfection not because he is a taskmaster, but rather, because we are wired for perfection.