Good Enough is NOT Enough

Good Enough is Not Enough

Some of my students have fallen under a category that their work is “good enough.”  They have yet to realize that good enough is not enough.  Enough means you did the required elements; therefore, it is not good.  It is required and becomes mediocre.  Doing life with excellence means you are becoming a change agent in the world with everything you do.

At my church’s location half of the congregation comes early to serve and set-up for the day of worship.  When we serve, we meet people, make friends, and have fun.  When I serve, my worries and concerns of the week are forgotten for a couple of hours and it helps me concentrate on the Word that is being spoken.  The really cool part is that people come five hours before the service to set-up because everything must be done with excellence. 

There are seasons when I don’t serve at church because my job of teaching has me serving extra hours.  I have to teach students to do everything with excellence.  That’s what serving is.  It is doing work with excellence.  Good enough is not enough. 

Good enough is doing just what is required.  Did Jesus just do what was “good enough”?  Or, did he go beyond what was expected and did amazing miracles, including bringing the dead back to life.  For Jesus, “good enough,” was not part of his mantra.  He did his ministry with excellence.  It may be why so many of his followers were amazed at what he did.

As I drive into work, I drive by several homeless encampments.  Our state of California that has great economy, is failing with our homeless population.  I’m not blaming anyone, because in politics all the yelling results in inaction.  I am however, noticing that it is because what we have done was “good enough.”  It’s not enough.  It never was.  We must serve our poor and downtrodden with excellence. 

Serving with your whole heart takes a strong attitude, a good heart and striving for better results.  It also clears your head, and makes you stronger emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  As in the words of Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  Joshua 24:15 Since Jesus served us with excellence, I have come to realize that serving the Lord deserves so much more than “good enough.”