“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17
Most men like to work hard—they struggle to understand why. Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” which speaks to motive. On the trail, we’ve all seen the difference between men who climb for the summit. From a distance, the pace may seem equal. Up close, the posture differs. One is steady. The other looks back, checking if his effort is noticed.
Exerted effort can easily become a disguise for ego. A man sharpens his skills, delivers strong results, and takes pride in doing things well—but underneath, he’s measuring himself against others. He wants to be noticed. He wants to be ahead. He wants the recognition that comes with being the best. That’s the part rarely said out loud. Don’t misunderstand: there’s nothing wrong with sharpening your skills or pushing to do well; it’s the motivation behind the effort that’s a problem.
The problem is when excellence becomes a platform for self. When the focus shifts from honoring God to elevating self, the work may still look strong, but the foundation is off. And over time, that misalignment starts to show.
application
Excellence without ego requires separating one’s identity from one’s output. That’s where many people struggle. What they produce becomes who they are. When their work is praised, they feel secure. When it’s overlooked, they feel diminished. That connection is subtle, but it drives more decisions than most people realize.
Working “in the name of the Lord” means the audience changes. The standard doesn’t drop—it actually rises—but the reason behind it shifts. A person still does the job well. They still pay attention to detail. They still finish what they start. But they’re no longer working to prove something. They’re working from something.
This shows up in how they handle success and failure. When a job goes well, they don’t need to highlight it; when it doesn’t, they don’t hide from it. They stay steady because their value isn’t tied to the outcome, and that steadiness is what keeps the ego from taking over.
What’s often left unsaid is that ego is quiet. It doesn’t always look like arrogance. It shows up in comparison, in the need to be recognized, and in the subtle desire to be better than anyone else. This focus on ego rather than excellence requires a person to constantly check and realign their motives.
Live it out
Today, do your work with full effort, but remove the need to be noticed. Finish the task, do it well, and let it stand on its own. When the urge to compare or seek recognition rises, pause and reset your focus. Work as if God is the only one watching.
pray this…
“Lord, that my results would bring You praise and not me.”
Photo by Redmind Studio on Unsplash
Download Print-Friendly version
Information lays the foundation—
Practice builds the man.
