Avoid Mediocrity

We had a wonderful staff meeting at work on Wednesday 2/2/05. The subject of our meeting was, “The Threat of Mediocrity.” Not only is mediocrity the biggest threat of any business, it also is the biggest threat of human existence. If you allow yourself to settle for less than the best, you are cheating yourself, the Lord and everyone around you. Here are some tips for you to avoid becoming a mediocre person. Mediocre is the state or quality of being inferior or ordinary.

I know that some people feel that it’s not bad being ordinary. However, in a society where people are revered for the most outlandish things, it may not be good to just be an ordinary person. You may have heard someone say, “Ordinary people can do extraordinary things.” Granted, it that may be a nice way to encourage people to go the extra mile and take a leap of faith, however innocent that may be, it really is not the truth.

In fact, extraordinary things are accomplished by people who refuse to be mediocre. So many of the blessings we enjoy today come from people who would not settle for the mundane. For example, take a look at the resume of Thomas Edison by, connected‑earth.com

“Although better known for inventing the electric lamp and the phonograph, Thomas Alva Edison made a number of significant improvements to the telephone. Edison was always inquisitive and started experimenting with electrical currents after his mother bought him a science book. He patented his first invention ‑ an electrical vote recorder ‑ when he was 22 and pledged his life to inventing. During his lifetime, Edison patented 1,093 inventions. Inventing was like a formula ‑ two large inventions per year and a minor one every ten days! He even made inventions to order. In fact, he applied for 400 patents in one year alone! Early in his career Edison was called to New York's Wall Street, to make improvements to Edward Calahan's 'stock ticker', where he fortunately met many of the financiers who funded his later projects.

In 1878 he was employed by the Western Union company to make improvements on Elisha Gray's prototype telephone, which they now owned. Edison was in direct competition to Alexander Graham Bell but he managed to develop a superior transmitter that gave Western Union an effective advantage.”

This is the prime example of a person who has broken through the barrier of the ordinary. Let me use the teaching of Jesus to show you that God expects His people to rise above the mediocrity of our time. Five references are found in the Sermon On the Mount where Jesus compelled his followers to be better than the religious world around them.

1. Be more righteous – Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2. Be more holy -- Matthew 5:27‑30 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
3. Be more committed -‑ Matthew 5:31‑32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
4. Be more tolerable -‑ Matthew 5:38‑42 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: [39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. [41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. [42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
5. Be more loving -‑ Matthew 5:44‑48 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.