PURSUE PERFECTION – NOT PERFECTIONISM

“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” – Matthew 11:30

The Maturing Believer needs to know clearly that we are called to PURSUE PERFECTION – NOT PERFECTIONISM: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt.11: 28-30). The dictionary definition of the world “perfect” is: being entirely without fault; satisfying all requirements; or meeting up to an ideal standard set by oneself or by others. Sadly, this tendency to want to achieve perfection through human efforts leaves the victims living in a constant cycle of trying to be good enough, failing, and feeling condemned!

Perfectionism is the belief that perfection – moral, spiritual or otherwise – is attainable by human effort. In psychology, perfectionism is a personality trait characterised by a striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations. Perfectionism can be helpful if it is healthy and balanced. For example, a level of perfectionism is preferred in highly specialised work such as surgery, piloting or software development, in which experts are expected to do the very best job possible. However, when pushed to the extreme, especially in matters of grace, perfectionism can be counterproductive, leading to anxiety, depression and relationship problems. Perfectionism is what causes people at times to neglect to do what they can do for fear of not doing it perfectly

Perfectionists tend to condemn themselves for every little fault and wallow in negative feelings when their high expectations go unmet. Thankfully, our Maker knows and sees all these things about us. He understands us better than we do ourselves. He created us, so He knows every single struggle and issue we face. Our Father-God understands our make-up: “For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust” (Psa.103:14). He came in the Person of His Son Jesus, and manifested as the only sinless and perfect Person that ever lived. To walk in His Word is to walk in perfection, not in perfectionism! God’s Word liberates from condemnation: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Rom.8:1). We are called to grace and liberty (Gal.5:1,13).

Our understanding and interpretation of the word ‘perfect’ can make the difference between perfection and perfectionism. The Bible presents an incredibly relieving definition of “perfect” as used in Matthew 5:48: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This verse has often been misunderstood to mean that God requires us to live a sinless perfect life. God does not encourage us to sin, but He knows our frame, and provides room for forgiveness, pardon, and cleansing (1Jh.1:9-10). The word ‘perfect’ was derived from the Greek term teleios, meaning: complete in all its parts; full grown, of full age. It refers especially to the completeness of Christian Character. The Lord is asking us to be complete, to imitate our heavenly Father, be ever moving, growing and doing our best to become more and more like Him.

What God is asking for is maturity! The growing baby is permitted to trip and fall until he or she matures to walk and run. The verse is both a command and a promise. The future verb tense used – “shall be” or a “will be” means that: “You will be complete as your heavenly Father is complete.” Practically, we’ll be complete or perfected when see Christ in eternity (1Jh.3:2). But now, we are in the process of becoming complete and mature. We can occupy our intended functions, living, loving and doing life within God’s laid-out plan. Our lord Jesus has set a standard and He reveals to us a pathway towards being complete and mature. It’s a lifelong process, but something we are more than capable of accomplishing through the strength and grace that God gives us: “God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect” (2Sam.22:33).