Where does striving for moral excellence fit into the paradigm of grace? If God accepts me just as I am, what is the incentive for me to be “better?”
Biblically speaking, moral excellence is only excellent when the striving is coming from the right motives. Otherwise, the result, though excellent in appearance is tainted. The reasons we do good things are as important as are the good things we want to do. The Lord looks at the heart, not just the outward appearance.
We note how the Pharisees strived for moral excellence in their conformity to the Mosaic Law but often did so in pride, self-righteousness, and often without love. True moral excellence is rooted in the qualities Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for not practicing: justice, love, mercy, humility and compassion. He said without those qualities driving their efforts, the outward manifestation of excellence was woeful. By seeking to establish their own righteousness, the Pharisees made their resultant display of moral excellence a facade.
For me, moral excellence is not my primary goal; it is the fruit of my primary goal, which is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). It comes from a growing awareness of and responsiveness to the Lord’s influence within me as I get to know Him better. The better I get to know Him the more attracted I am to His ways, His values and His excellence.
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