The Good life
Doing your job with excellence
Actual Incident Report: I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In block number three of the accident reporting form, I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more and I trust that the following details are sufficient:
I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at the ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in block number 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh 135 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured scull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley. Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground - and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately 50 pounds. I refer you again to my weight in block number 11. As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell onto the pile of bricks and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay there on the bricks in pain, unable to move, and watching the barrel six stories above - I again lost my presence of mind. I let go of the rope!
Ouch!! Lack of excellence can get out of control! The young man, whose life we have been looking at, Daniel became a great leader in the nation of Babylon. He excelled others, out lived his critics and kings. He did so by a life of dedication to God and valuing the virtuous people god had put in his life. He drew strength and courage from those. But he did something else that, these days, could give you bad reputation these days. He did hid work with excellence.
”Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” (Daniel 6:3 NIV)
Daniel did his job well. No, better than well he did it so good that everyone else could see it. In the church world “excellence” has gotten a bad name. Some people are sloppy and try to make it look spiritual. They try to make a virtue of being lazy. Not Daniel. He planned, worked hard, was diligent in his work, and God blessed him. What a picture of how we should be as Christians! We should be known as great employees, diligent supervisors and excellent managers.
”Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:22-24 NIV)
You are not really working for your boss or your company. If you are a Christian you are working for the Son of God. If your boss over looks some extra work you did or you did not get the promotion that you think you deserve, do not worry. Jesus Christ is your real boss, and He is not influenced by office politics. No one hoodwinks Him. He will reward you! Now there is a down side to this. If you are excellent, you will become successful and small minded people will find fault with you and be jealous of you…it happened to Daniel
“Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.” (Daniel 6:4 NASB) What a testimony for us to have, even those who would want to see us fail can find no fault. Let’s serve Christ this way!