As long as I can remember, I’ve desired perfection. There was a time that me and a best friend of mine considered getting perfection tattooed on us. On our necks to be exact! Can you believe that? I’m not certain if this desire for perfection is due to growing up in so much dysfunction, or it’s just how I’m wired. Either way, I am growing to realize that I am always on the pursuit of perfection. In some ways, this is good, as it leads to progress. In other ways, it’s not so good, as it leads to stress.
For the Christian, the pursuit of perfection is the reality that we live in. Christ is perfection, and as we keep our eyes, mind, and heart, stayed on Him, we are pursuing Him; hence, we are pursuing perfection. This is the spiritual perspective and this is good. We, however, are not all spirit. We are also flesh, and it is our flesh that causes us problems.
Though my spirit is on the pursuit of perfection, my flesh is completely imperfect.
“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
– Romans 7:18
As we understand this, as Christians, we better understand the position that we are in. This awareness is key for the journey, and will equip us to appropriately respond to the challenges that we face. For instance, while we desire to do better (which is desirable), what happens when we don’t? For me, personally, I used to get so down on myself. I mean, I could be down for days, wallowing in a failure.
Now, as my understanding has grown, I may not wallow for days, but imperfections still frustrate me. Even as I write this, I’m understanding that we must desire perfection (as we desire Christ), yet, we must also grow in how we respond when we don’t quite hit the mark, or when things don’t meet our expectations.
This is where other Christlike virtues are displayed: patience, forgiveness, love, mercy, humility, grace.
Could it be that our focus and desire for perfection is on the wrong things? Maybe we’re desiring perfection in areas that are not Christlike in virtue or essence. For instance, when Martha was tending to the cleaning and cooking, Jesus told her that she was worried about many things, but only one thing was necessary (Luke 10:41-42). The necessary thing was being displayed by Martha’s sister, Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet.
In our pursuit of perfection, let us be reminded of the better thing. As Jesus stated in verse 42, “that good part.” Let us know that He is “that good part” and may we remain sensitive to His leading as He turns our attention back to Him, when we find ourselves “troubled about many things.”
He is able.
