Christian Living

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© Bob Barra, 8-27-07

One struggle that the Lord seems to be working on me is one I call perfectionism.

What I mean by the term is a point of view that has to do with my idea of what is perfect. I have come to realize is that these ideas of perfect are something I have imposed on myself. In each situation no one has imposed anything on me that another may judge unreasonable.

However, what I’ve come to realize is that my standards of what is good and right, or perfect, are far from reasonable. It is like I have the perspective that I’m able to meet these unrealistic expectations. Obviously I always fall short.

In turn, my response to falling short would result in self-belittlement, discouragement, fear and eventually depression to the point of giving up. I’ve come to realize that because my view of me is bloated and unrealistic my struggle with perfectionism is just another form of pride.

So I have been going to God’s word and praying for His council. As a result I have come to seem some things that are meant for me to see myself His way.

In Psalms it says of us that we are made of “dust”. Dust can do very little but damage things, or make things ineffective. Dust is pretty much useless.

But dust, mixed with water, can become clay. This appears as to how we are meant to be dependent on the Lord. Even Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” The sister-verse to this: “I can do all things through Christ.”

At various times the disciples, some of who were fisherman, sought to fish but ended up unsuccessful until Jesus told them where to fish. Even expert seamen could do nothing without Him. John the Baptist said that we could have nothing unless God had given it to us.

When I belittle myself, it comes from a misunderstanding of who I am and how the Lord made things to be in this world of mine. He desires that I see my dependence on Him. There are many things I am responsible for but struggle with because it is taking me time to learn those things. Over time those tasks I do are done more successfully because of God-given time. All I need is to be patient, which often does not happen.

I am starting to see that the Lord’s idea of “perfect” is far different than mine. Because He designed us to be dependent on Him, that is the standard of perfection-to be complete, or perfect, in Him. Any view that does not line up with that is borne of blind pride. Only revelation from Him reveals that.

What God had made, as shown in the Creation account, is good. While the world does now endure a fallen state, I still think God considers what He has made, especially we humans, as good. I tend to think that was why He sent His Son Jesus to save us from our sinful nature. Apart from sin, we are good, because of a good Creator. Even Jesus said only good things could come from a good heart. What heart is greater in goodness than that of God Himself, as our Creator?

No where in the Bible am I required to be perfect. Even when the concept of perfect is mentioned in the Bible, it is illustrated in the sense of dependency on God, or how we are unable to attain something so unrealistic for us. All that is required of me is obedience, by depending on the Lord. One aspect of obedience is resigning my ideas and replacing them with the revealed truth of God.

So what would free me is to agree with what His word says about us and myself. The sins I commit as a result of a perfectionist attitude blaspheme what God has done through Creation and Redemption. However, submission to the truth brings me peace and gratitude. Submission, in this sense, is worshipping my Creator and Redeemer.

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