Excellence Pays Dividends

^“After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” (Genesis 24: 19 N.I.V)

As a test for the prospective wife for Isaac, Abraham’s chief servant Eliazer had asked God to give him a sign by showing him a young woman who was ready to draw water from the well for him as well as the camels. According to the custom of the day, women were required to give water to travelers but not their animals. Eliazer wanted to seek out a woman of virtue: of excellence - strong, hardworking, resourceful and generous. Rebecca was willing to give Eliazer water as well as draw water for his camels “until they had enough to drink”. This was no mean feat. It is said that a camel can drink between 30-50 gallons (136-227 liters) of water at a time especially after a journey covering many days. Abraham’s servant had 10 thirsty camels with him! Rebecca’s outstanding abilities won her a husband from a good god fearing family which was also very rich. Maybe she never needed to draw water for others ever again.

We are called to excellence in all areas of life: in character, manner, style and all things. “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ”. Philippians 1:9-10

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“No student ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him: it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction”. Charles Kendall Adams

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