Excellence That Stands Before Kings
Everyone wants to be noticed. Deep down, we all desire recognition, respect, and honor.
But not everyone experiences this, much less gets to stand before kings.
However, the Bible shows us that there is one clear path to such a place. And that path is excellence.
Excellence is steady, faithful, diligent, and consistent.
When you walk in godly excellence, there’s a special something that sets you apart.
It not only makes room for you, but also brings you before kings.
In the context of this article, the term “stand before kings” refers to every high level of authority that can push you into greatness.
Picture presidents, CEOs, governors, prime ministers, industry leaders, global influencers, and gatekeepers of opportunity.
People whose decisions can change the course of your life.
Here’s what standing before them really looks like.
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
Proverbs 22:29
1. Excellence is a Godly Standard
God is a God of excellence.
From the beauty of creation to the order of His commands and the gift of salvation, everything He does reflects perfection.
We see this clearly in Genesis 1, where after each day of creation, God looked at what He had made and saw that “it was good.”
That word “good” means it met His perfect standard – complete, purposeful, and without flaw.
God never does anything halfway.
And if we are made in God’s image, then excellence should be our natural response.
It should show in how we speak, how we work, how we serve, how we love, and how we grow.
Excellence isn’t about trying to be better than others; it’s about being your best, under God’s guidance and in full obedience to Him.
2. Your Gift Will Make Room for You
Proverbs 18:16 says:
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
This is one of the most powerful truths in Scripture.
We’re all blessed with gifts – that unique thing that forms a part of who we are.
Some of our gifts may be slightly similar, but the way we use and express them is uniquely different.
So, when you faithfully put in the work to develop your God-given gifts, they’ll begin to speak for you.
Step by step, your capacity starts to grow and reach places you never imagined.
Joseph was a Hebrew prisoner in Egypt, but his excellence in leadership, honesty, and service eventually brought him before Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14–41).
He didn’t beg for attention. He simply kept doing what was right and excellent, even while in prison.
Your gift doesn’t need a huge spotlight to shine. It just needs consistency.
Keep sharpening your skill. Volunteer in spaces that matter to you. Be willing and humble to learn from those ahead of you, and serve with a sincere heart.
If you’re a singer and songwriter, sing with all your heart and write beautiful, meaningful songs.
A baker? Make the best pastries the world will ever know. Create recipes that set you apart. Recipes that make your name unforgettable.
Whether you’re a writer, a painter, an entrepreneur…whatever it is…strive to stand out. Don’t just settle to be among.
In time, your excellence will make room for you.
3. Excellence Requires Diligence
Excellence is not automatic. It takes hard work, discipline, and focus.
God rewards diligence.
Daniel is a clear example of this. The Bible says, “an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3).
This spirit of excellence set him apart, even in a foreign land.
Despite opposition, Daniel remained consistent in character, in his work, and in his devotion to God.
Kings came and went, but Daniel remained trusted and valuable. Even more, his diligence earned him respect and promotion from these multiple kings.
Now, you might be wondering if excellence means doing great things all at once, but that’s not the case.
Excellence is more about doing small things well, again and again.
It’s about showing up, even when no one is watching. It’s staying faithful in the little things.
This is why excellence grows best in the soil of consistency.
Lazy people rarely rise to leadership. But those who keep giving their best, no matter the task, are the ones who are remembered.
Whether you’re in school, running a business, raising children, or cleaning floors, do it with all your heart.
4. Keep the Right Company
In case you never realized it, your circle shapes your standard.
If you surround yourself with careless, lazy, or dishonest people, you will slowly drift away from excellence.
Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you’re different or that you have the strength to stay unchanged or even change them.
If you’re in a friend group of four, and two or three of them are living life wrongly, their mindset will eventually rub off on you.
Like the popular saying goes, “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Instead, choose to stay close to people who fear God, who work hard, and who are serious about growth.
1 Corinthians 15:33 clearly warns us:
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Even if you mean well, the wrong crowd can damage your discipline, steal your focus, and slowly weaken your passion for excellence.
5. Excellence Begins in the Secret Place
One reason many people miss out on excellence is that they wait for a stage. They wait for an audience.
But what you do in secret matters to God.
Before anyone knew David as a giant-slayer, God already knew him as a faithful shepherd.
He had killed lions and bears while tending sheep (1 Samuel 17:34–36), long before anyone ever clapped for him.
Moses spent 40 years in the desert. Joseph spent years in prison.
Yet all three were being prepared for greatness.
Their excellence in private qualified them for promotion in public.
So, don’t despise small beginnings. Don’t rush the process. Keep doing your best, even when no one is clapping.
God sees you. And when the time is right, He will lift you.
Because if you can’t be excellent when no one sees, you won’t suddenly become excellent when everyone’s watching.
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Luke 16:10
6. Do Things the Right Way. No Cutting Corners!
Shortcuts are tempting.
Today, a lot of young people want the get-rich-quick way and not the grow-with-discipline way.
Because of this, you may feel pressured to cheat, lie, or cut corners.
But remember that true excellence is rooted in integrity.
God is more interested in how you get there than how fast you get there.
Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, even though doing so might have saved him from prison (Genesis 39:9).
He chose purity over promotion, and in due time, God honored him.
I also want to encourage you who have a small business: don’t just trade for the fun of it or for the money. Get registered legally.
Don’t boast of being a CEO without a legal document to back it up.
Proverbs 10:9 says:
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
So, never trade your character and worth for temporary comfort.
Kings may admire your talent, but they also need to trust your integrity.
7. Excellence Must Be Guarded
As God begins to lift you, stay humble. Don’t let pride enter your heart.
Excellence can open doors, but pride can close them just as quickly.
Paul gives us a clear warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12:
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
So, never stop growing. Never assume you’ve arrived.
Stay teachable and connected to God. Stay accountable to the right people.
It’s not enough to start with excellence. You must continue in it.
Because while kings may notice you, only God can sustain you.
8. Excellence Gives God Glory
When people see excellence, they ask questions. They want to know what makes you different.
And that becomes an open door to tell them about Jesus.
When you make it clear that your excellence comes from God, He gets the glory.
When you do things with excellence, people begin to see God in you.
Your work becomes a form of worship. Your honesty, integrity, kindness, attention to detail…these things preach the gospel louder than words.
They show that God truly lives in you.
So, don’t just settle for average. Don’t cut corners. Don’t join the crowd in laziness or mediocrity.
As a Christian, be outstanding. Be the top in your class. Win awards. Take up stages. Build honest wealth. Triumph always.
Let your light shine!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Your Turn to Rise
God is still raising people today. He is still honoring the excellent.
You don’t need to be famous, just faithful.
You never know who is watching your life. People in high places don’t always announce themselves.
Sometimes, your next opportunity is connected to how you treat someone today, or how you approach a simple task or assignment.
David played the harp for Saul. He tended sheep with courage and faithfulness.
When the time came, it wasn’t his ambition that got him the crown, it was his track record.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us:
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
This mindset shifts our focus.
We stop doing things to impress people and start doing them to please God.
And when God is pleased, kings will take notice.
So, in every season, in every job, in every relationship, bring your best.
And in time, you will carry the kind of excellence that stands before kings.
Let your light shine. Your work speak.
Let your excellence reflect Jesus.
Keep living like Christ here on earth.
Maranatha!
