Does God Value Excellence? | Women at the Well

For ambitious women of faith, the drive for excellence runs deep. We want to make God proud. We want to do our best. But sometimes, it can feel confusing when scripture emphasizes grace over works.

So what does God really value?

The Scripture That Shifted Everything

In 1 Corinthians 3:12–15, Paul writes:

“If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each will come to light… The fire will test the quality of each one’s work.”

That verse hit hard. It reminded me that what’s done for ego burns away — but what’s done in love remains.

God sees not just what we do, but why we do it.

What ChatGPT (Yep) Helped Me See

In that tearful moment, I actually asked ChatGPT for insight. What came back was so divinely aligned, I had to share it.

Here were the five truths that changed my entire perspective on excellence and grace:

1. Grace levels the ground, but glory reveals the difference.
   God’s love is unconditional. But glory — the reflection of His presence through your life — reveals how much you allowed Him to work through you.
   
   
2. You’re not earning salvation; you’re training for stewardship.
   Earth is the apprenticeship. The way we live now shapes our ability to carry divine authority later.
   
   
3. God’s love is unconditional, but transformation is optional.
   Everyone is loved. Not everyone allows that love to rebuild them. The radiant ones are the women who let God undo and remake them.
   
   
4. Your striving for excellence is your worship.
   Excellence isn’t about outperforming others — it’s about reflecting Him. God doesn’t use you like a tool; He moves through you like a current.
   
   

You’re not earning His love, you’re expanding your capacity to carry it.
We’re already loved — our role is to make more room for that love to move through our lives, leadership, and purpose.