We live in a society in which average is exceptional and slothful is normal. The trend today is to seek the path of least resistance and, when the going gets difficult, to give up. In school, when the total grades are averaged together, it's called "grading on the curve." In our society, we Christians have allowed our standards to be graded by the curve of the world.

No longer are we "the lights into a world of darkness," particularly when excellence is concerned. We have lowered our standards to those of the average person around us. More Christians depend on the government than on God. Why? Because we have found it easier to adjust to mediocrity than to the source of excellence: God's Word.

Therefore, it is vital that we walk according to God's Word. To do so, there are some basic attitudes to reassess.

IOU versus u-owe-me
The common attitude today is "somebody owes me something." Many Americans think that a lifetime job with good pay and a guaranteed retirement plan at 65 come with just being born; promotion is a matter of time in grade; 40 hours a week is the maximum endurance for any worker; the last hour of each day is there to make the transition to home easier; a 10-minute coffee break should take at least half an hour; a half-hour lunch should take at least an hour and a half, and an equal share of company profits belong to the workers.

Honestly consider whether Christian employees act as if they believe differently from the U-Owe-Me attitude found in industry today. What does God require? "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23). God's principles demand that, no matter what others are doing, we serve Him through every action we take.

Our rights
The banner of nearly everyone in our society today is "We demand our rights." Exactly what are our "rights" as Christians? The rights of servants. Being a servant is not a particularly appealing image to most Christians, but that is precisely what we are called to be. Perhaps the most common reason why most Christians are not useful to God is a proud, defiant attitude toward an employer or a spouse. It has its roots in a rebellious spirit toward God. When a person with a rebellious spirit is confronted with the principle of self-sacrifice from God's Word, the truth will become evident. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself" (Philippians 2:3).

Conclusion
"Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich" (Proverbs 10:4). It should be sufficient to say that God established excellence as our norm. "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). To accept less is dishonoring to God and demoralizing to us. The result will be a loss of credibility in the eyes of others and the chastening of the Lord.