Good Versus Best

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 25, 2017

So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.’ Acts 6:2

Many times good is the enemy of the best. Your competition for God’s best is not necessarily gross sin or bad things. Good things are what usually distract you from your sweet spot. Do not be lured into this lesser approach to life. Everybody else’s agenda for you does not equal God’s agenda.

Yes, the needs are great, but a need does not constitute an action, much less a call. This is where your courage of conviction can keep you from unwisely spreading yourself too thin. If you are scattered about in a multitude of activities, there is a good chance you will miss the focused opportunity of God’s best.

Resist the temptation to be an inch deep and a mile wide. Rather, drill down on divinity’s call on your life. You know how you are wired and gifted. Validate what you do best with others who know you well. Tap into their wisdom and discernment. Your present predicament may be the result of over-commitment and under-ability.

You can always tell when you are not operating in the vortex of your giftedness. These worthy and good activities become a chore. Something haunts you. It is the realization that another talented person in this needed area could do a much better job than you with half the effort. It is sobering, but true. So have the courage to find a replacement for this good activity so you can focus on what you do best.

Others admire what you do best. They celebrate your God-given skills. This is the role we all need to find for ourselves. Position yourself to excel in what you do best. However, that means having the courage and the faith to say no to good people and to good things. Mature people will understand. Others may give you a hard time. But, you can be at peace when you are in the crosshairs of God’s best.

If you are a gifted teacher, do not be distracted by all the opportunities that scream for your service. There are others who can serve but are unable to teach. In fact, a server might even aspire to teach because they value the outcome of helping people. But, the amount of preparation and energy exerted toward this educational endeavor is not the best use of their time.

There is another example of experiencing God’s best. It is relational investments. Right relationships will often trump other good tasks or activities. Children are children for a season. Attending their ball games instead of another hour at the office is what’s best. Parents are parents for a finite period of time. Sitting on the front porch with them and watching the grass grow is better than an occasional distant e-mail or even a phone call. Physical exercise is important, but training in godliness is better.

Meeting a project deadline is strategic, but listening to a person in distress may be the greater priority. Do not bow to the good when the best is waiting in the wings to dance. Dance with the best, and the good will take care of itself. God’s role is to handle the good while you focus on the best. It is a step of faith, but He can be trusted with the good and the best. Do not settle for the crumbs of the good. Instead, feast on the best!

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