After I became a Christian, I was told I was reborn spiritually. I read this verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV) The problem was I didn’t feel like a new creation. No matter how hard I tried, I was the same old me, making the same old mistakes. So I attempted to pursue perfection and try to please people. But this was a no-win situation.
Can you relate? I mean, we all know “You can’t please everyone.” Jesus was literally perfect. But “He was despised and rejected] by men.” So, I gave up pleasing people and pursued perfection to please God. Except this is not necessary.
Why do People Pursue Perfection?
Research shows the root cause of perfectionism is the fear of rejection. This can be due to past pee rejection, having a judgmental parent, or experiencing abuse or abandonment. Unfortunately, my childhood checked all those boxes.
But no matter its cause, people who pursue perfection have a deep-seated need to please people and God. They have such a strong need for acceptance they cannot rest until everything is perfect.
But Doesn’t the Bible Instruct Us to live Godly lives?
As a new Christian, one of the problems I had was living up to all the instructions for living a Godly life. When I repeatedly failed, I quit trying and ran from God. I felt I was a huge disappointment, so why bother? Then, the enemy lied to me. He told me I wasn’t good enough for God. Unfortunately, I believed him for years. But thankfully, now I know the truth and have love, peace, and rest through my Lord.
The Bible does instruct us to strive for good behavior. But this isn’t because God needs it from us. Instead, it is to bring others to Christ. You see, when others see our changed behavior, they will attribute it to God and seek Him themselves. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
Because Jesus is Perfect, We Don’t Need To Pursue Perfection.
A confusing verse appears later in Matthew 5. “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, ESV) However, we must always read the bible in context. If one reads all of Matthew 5, it’s apparent Jesus is not telling us to pursue perfection. He was actually demonstrating the impossibility of humans to be saved by perfectly following the law. That’s why God sent Jesus as a perfect sin offering. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:1-3, ESV)
So, We Can Stop Pursuing Perfection!
Friend, the truth is God doesn’t need us to be perfect. Thus, we can stop pursuing perfection. Besides, if we try, we will fail. We are human and will never be perfect. And we will never be able to live a sinless life. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, ESV) But God loves us so much He sent Jesus so we don’t have to. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, ESV)
And even better, our people pleasing, and pursuit of perfection can never add or subtract anything from God’s unconditional love for us. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39, NIV) You see, God loves us perfectly despite our imperfections.
What Then Should We Pursue?
Pursue the Truth:
Rather than pursue perfection, we must pursue the Word of God. The Bible has the power to defeat the enemy’s lies. God’s truth helps us see ourselves through God’s eyes. When we do, we will have peace, joy and rest.
God’s Truth Says We Are:
A child of God (John 1:12) A friend of Jesus (John 15:15) Accepted by Christ (Romans 15:7) Redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ (Ephesians 1:7) God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) A citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20) Loved and chosen by God (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
Friend, we are who God says we are! And when we allow His Holy Spirit to fill and guide us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)
Pursue God and Your Relationship with Him.
The Bible states, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” (Proverbs 8:17, ESV) So, Let’s seek Jesus instead of pursuing perfection. When we develop a deep, loving, and personal relationship with our Savior, we will grow and become more like Him and less like Imperfect people. “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].” (Philippians 1:6 AMP)
Finally Never Forget, God Loves and Uses Imperfect People.
Peter denied Jesus three times and fell into the water when He forgot to focus on God. But he understood he referred to himself as the disciple God loved. He went on to begin the church. Paul was a tax collector who persecuted God’s people. But God used him to encourage and build up the church. In fact, Paul begged Jesus to take away his sins and fleshly desires. But Jesus replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
So, let’s be like Peter and Paul and pursue God’s Truth and our relationship with our Lord. Then, He will fill us with His Holy Spirit and give us strength. We can then rest in His perfect abilities, knowing He loves and uses us perfectly, even in our imperfections.
Related Article about Pursuing Perfection:
Lay Aside the Weight of Perfection
