What Does the Bible Say About Striving For Excellence?

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 92 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 3:12-16 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Romans 15:14 ESV / 29 helpful votes

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 2:12 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 21 helpful votes

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.

Deuteronomy 28:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,

Philippians 3:8 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Proverbs 31:31 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Matthew 5:48 ESV / 15 helpful votes

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Timothy 5:25 ESV / 11 helpful votes

So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Romans 5:1-21 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ...

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

John 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But all things should be done decently and in order.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Titus 2:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Philippians 1:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Philippians 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Daniel 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

1 Thessalonians 4:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,

Colossians 1:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Philippians 3:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Romans 15:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

Matthew 22:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Daniel 6:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

48 Bible Verses about Striving For Excellence

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 92 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 62 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:12-16 ESV / 34 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 15:14 ESV / 29 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:12 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 21 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 28:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:8 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:31 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:48 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 5:25 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:1-21 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 4:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:28 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 2:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 6:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 3:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 15:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 6:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)