Vincent van Gogh sold only one of his 864 paintings during his lifetime. Meanwhile, Sipho, a craftsman in South Africa, sells hand-carved birds for two dollars each near the entrance of Kruger National Park. By what standard could either of these men be considered a success?
Johnston said that “attaining cultural goals that are sure to elevate one’s perceived importance within that culture.” This tangible definition makes success relatively easy to recognize. Look around—if you are better off, or at least as well off, as those around you, society likely considers you successful. Some might argue that striving for success is prideful, but that is not necessarily the case. The Old Testament speaks of God’s blessings for those who delight in Him and walk in His ways (Psalm 1:3, 128:2). Yet, the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that both prosperity and adversity are fleeting and bear no eternal significance (7:13-14).
The Burden of Comparative Success
The opposite of success is often equated with failure, defeat, and inferiority. For many, striving for success is not just about achieving a goal but avoiding the stigma of failure. This relentless comparison can lead to exhaustion and despair. Measured by material wealth, van Gogh is frequently deemed a failure because he relied on his brother Theo’s generosity. In contrast, Sipho may be seen as a success within his community, where 85% of people are unemployed. This comparison reveals an important truth: there is no universal standard of success.
The Higher Standard: Excellence
The real question, however, is not about success but excellence. Unlike success, excellence is harder to define yet infinitely more significant. Business writer Tom Peters has explored the concept extensively, yet his books focus more on achieving excellence than defining it. William Fisher describes excellence as “a certain style of life, a manner of living, a bigness of spirit, a point of view, a frame of reference, a set of priorities, a hierarchy of values, and an admirable self-imposed standard.” Similarly, Johnston links excellence to the early Olympic athletes, who engaged in “sacrificial preparation” driven by a “yearning for meaningful excellence.” The Greek term arete—which encompasses the maturity of spirit, mind, and body—defined their pursuit of excellence.
Biblical Excellence
The New Testament uses arete five times, each instance illustrating its depth. Paul instructs the Philippians:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence (arete), if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Peter echoes this sentiment, attributing excellence to God and urging believers to cultivate it:
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue (arete), and virtue (arete) with knowledge.” (2 Peter 1:5, ESV)
Different Bible translations render arete as moral character, excellence of character, moral excellence, and even “worthiness” (Young’s Literal Translation). The implication is clear: excellence is not merely about what we do but who we are.
Excellence vs. Perfection
Excellence is not the pursuit of perfection, which can be just as crushing as the relentless chase for success. Instead, excellence is about embracing our God-given purpose. Paul reminds us in Ephesians:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
God is the sculptor, and we are His masterpiece. Michelangelo was once asked how he created his stunning sculpture of David. He reportedly replied, “I just chipped away everything that wasn’t David.” We often assume we must shape ourselves into Christ’s likeness when, in reality, we must yield to the craftsmanship of the Holy Spirit.
Living Out Excellence
Like the ancient Greek athletes, Christian excellence requires devotion to both principle and task. It involves surrendering to God’s refining work while actively striving to glorify Him in all we do (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31). This extends beyond ministry—it includes family, careers, friendships, hobbies, and even leisure.
If I may leave you with one final encouragement: God has called you to a life of excellence. Don’t settle for anything less. Don’t do less than He has purposed for you to accomplish.