If You Can Do Better Why Not?

Luke 1:1
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
Luke 1:2
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Luke 1:3
With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

The word better implies that there is a comparison with something else. Doing better, therefore, means there was a first attempt and now we are aiming for another one that should exceed the first one. If you can do better why not?

Luke writes the story of Jesus and dedicates it to Theophilus. We do not who Theophilus was. Some have suggested that it was just an honorary title, while others think he was a priest. Luke tells Theophilus that the story of Jesus has been written by many people as they recorded what witnesses handed down. However, Luke tells Theophilus that he has decided to do a thorough investigation and come up with a better account. If you can do better why not?

Luke tells Theophilus that while the story of Jesus has been told and written by many other people, he believes he is much more genuine. Luke wants whoever Theophilus is to base his understanding on a genuine story and probably get converted. Luke, therefore, is producing a better version of the story of Jesus. If you can do better why not?

Copying is wrong. Copying is when you reproduce someone else’s work without acknowledging the source and acting asa if or claiming that it is your work. Copying is theft. The Bible has a commanded number eight which is against stealing. Plagiarism is stealing. A believer who steals information needs to repent or else they are not heaven-bound. In this social media era, it is easy to get information from others and adopt it as if it is your original work. That is theft. To avoid copying and plagiarism, learn to acknowledge the source of your information and then use it freely. Copying and plagiarism are theft. Luke does not copy what others have written. Luke investigates so that he comes up with a better account. If you can do better why not?

Those who copy and plagiarise do not aim to be better, they aim at being thought to be the original producers of the information they stole. When you aim for better, you improve what exists. Luke tells us that while many have accounts of Jesus, he will investigate and give a more orderly account. Luke aims at a more orderly account. If you can do better why not?

Like Luke, we should refuse to use others as standards of where to aim at. Others have written, but I can and will write better. We should rise above crowd standards. This is how crowds do their weddings, do it better. This is how crowds relate with their spouses, do it better. This is how crowds raise their children, do it better. This is how crowds invest, do it better. This is how crowds have fun, do it better. This is where crowds are going this weekend, do it better. Do not be chained to herd mentality, rise above the crowd. Start your story like Luke, tell us that this is what crowds do, but this is what I have chosen to do. Always do it better. If you can do better why not?

Many people have written about Jesus, but I have chosen to write a better story about Jesus. Many people present music like everyone else, but I have chosen to do it better. Many people have set standards we see around us, but I have chosen to be different and better. If you can do better why not?

May God help us to be better than the standards set around us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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