To discover the effort of his team, a coach decided to record a team practice without the players’ knowledge.  During practice, the coach gave instructions and then left the gym momentarily.  After practice, the coach viewed the video and discovered that some of the players were lacking effort and respect. The video revealed that when the coaching staff left the gym some of the players stopped working, some of them did less, while others completed the tasks. 

If you were one of these players, what would the video have caught you doing? Maybe it’s time to honestly ask, “If my coach isn't looking, do I give my best?” If no one is in the weight room, do I complete all my reps? If the teacher leaves the room, the boss leaves the office, do I keep working? In the book of Malachi, God confronted His people because their efforts weren't good enough.

According to God's command, when people made their sacrifices to Him, they were supposed to give their best (Leviticus 1:3). However, when the people showed up at the temple, they brought their crippled and diseased lambs. They brought their worst. God said, "Where is the respect and honor I deserve as God?" Bringing less than our best is a reflection of what we think of the one in charge.

God wasn't only upset with the people who gave less than their best, God was also upset with the priests who allowed it. The priests knew better, they knew what was expected – obedience and excellence! If I am the captain of my team, I reflect on the coach and the program. If my teammates are purposely lacking effort, it's my responsibility to honor the coach, and make sure my teammates honor the coach as well. Like a disrespectful and lazy captain, these priests were not honoring God. That was their role in life!

When we give God our leftover time, money, and energy, we are repeating the same sin as the people in Malachi's time. Excellence is displayed when we give our best! Excellence is about refusing to do less than we can and giving less than what we have. Excellence is giving our best, not our leftovers.