Eccl9:10- Work hard at whatever you do, because there will be no action, no thought, no knowledge, no wisdom in the world of the dead- and that is where you are going.
In my personal observation, I have seen that some believers try to use spirituality as a cover-up for mediocrity. When they have the privilege of giving their goals the best shot, you may hear some brethren say 'it is God's mercy that matters' not by being the best.
I want you to know that if unbelievers are excellent on their job, business, craft and whatever legal thing they do, they stand a better chance than a quack or half-baked believer. If a pagan medical doctor is excellent, even Christians will prefer him to a quack tongue-speaking doctor because life is irreplaceable.
I am not down-playing the place of grace but grace is just a catalyst after you've done your part. As a student, you can't write what you don't know in exam, If you don't read you cannot pass. When your input isn't qualitative, your can't get an excellent result.
- I receive grace for quality input In Jesus Name. Amen