Excellence, not perfect performance
The quest for perfection can be a snare, luring us in with images of being gazed upon with admiration. But as Christ Followers, is that what we are called to? Did Jesus say, “well done, good and perfect servant”?
Let’s look at the definitions and then we’ll see what scripture has to say.
Perfection: a compulsive drive to do it perfectly, without mistakes or exception (I say impossible, unattractive).
Excellence: having high standards of being and performance for yourself and others (I say possible, very attractive).
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48 NKJV).
According to Strong’s Concordance,the word perfect in this verse was derived from the Greek word teleios.
Teleios is defined this way:
(a) complete in all its parts, (b) full-grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character
Therefore, we are called to be complete in Christ versus perfect, which as we know as Christ-followers, we cannot be on this earth and there is only one who was and is perfect.
I invite you to stop and ponder.
Are you unreasonably setting “perfection” as the standard:
- in your organization?
- for yourself as a professional? As a leader?
- for your team members?
- in your home and family?
- in your relationships?
I’m inviting you right now to remove the words perfect and perfection from your vocabulary and mindset, and to replace them with a spirit of excellence, as unto the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23 NIV).
Now, isn’t that freeing?
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More on Spiritual Growth and Soul Care
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- Choices and the will of God (by Jordan Raynor)
- From mourning to mission (by David Bowman)
- What I learned from Jim Harbaugh about how to attack the day (by Tom Crenshaw)
