Since the start of the new year, there has been a theme that I feel God has been trying to reveal to me. I’ve heard it in a Sunday sermon, on the first day of classes, and in a chapel service. That theme is that as Christians, we are to be set apart by living a life of excellence. While many believers may initially think of excellence in terms of church and our relationship with God, these aren’t the only ways that we should be exhibiting excellence. As followers of God, we should stand out in all aspects of our life by giving our best effort. No matter what we are doing, it should always be for the glory of God. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”. This should give us a higher sense of motivation in our everyday lives.

Not only does it please God to see us working hard for him, but it also shows others that as God’s people, we are set apart. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” When we are living in the light of his salvation, it’s clear that we should work with purpose to glorify him and display his significance.

Another part of our lives that requires excellence is our finances. While this may be a difficult aspect of life for some people, personal finance is extremely important to understand and properly manage. Money issues, such as debt and overspending, can increase our stress levels and interfere with our everyday lives. This subject can especially impact our relationship with God if we allow it to have a hold over us. However, when we can create a budget as a guideline and follow it properly, we have the ability to tell our money where to go instead of our money telling us where to put it. We will likely even be able to give more generously to those around us. This displays the excellence that God calls us to as he sets us apart.

With the start of this new year, I want to live a life of excellence. I know that I am human and will make mistakes, but I am going to strive to work harder in every aspect of my life for the glory of God. If you would like to speak with me more about living a life of excellence financially, feel free to contact me at [email protected].