How Perfect Are We To Be? Is Perfection Absolutely Always Right?

116 Responses to “How Perfect Are We To Be? Is Perfection Absolutely Always Right?”

1. Sally Barbour on October 24th, 2007 6:48 pm

   Dr. Tackett,

   I read this after our Wednesday night Truth Project group lesson 7 - which begins by explaining that God is a God of order!! I can certainly sympathize with you on the desk clutter–so many projects in different stages that if they all got put away it would take way too long to dig them back out to finish, and when one is finished there is at least one more to take its place.
   However the scripture that comes to mind when I think of comparing gutter cleaning with the Truth Project is Mary and Martha. Mary chose the best priority–sitting at the feet of Jesus, or gazing on the face of God (literally!!). I do believe that all our possessions are really on loan from God and we are to care for them accordingly so leaving your gutters permanently clogged is not a good idea either. Might I suggest you check into the wonderful capped gutters that are guaranteed to deflect everything but water. Not sure about Ponderosa pine needles, but they sure work on those pesky willow oak leaves that cling to everything with a vengance!!

   God bless and best of luck with your project!

2. Shannon Hanley on October 24th, 2007 9:34 pm

   Am I missing it or have you made this one easy? You taught me that God is a God of relationships. Wouldn’t He rather you be at His work in the Truth Project group or enjoying His creation with your wife in Hawaii? The desk and the gutters are things. I am a perfectionist, but we can’t be truly perfect in any thing. When forced to choose between relationships and things, relationships demand we reconcile ourselves to imperfection in things. Thanks for asking us to think.

3. Amanda on October 25th, 2007 6:45 am

   Perfectionism is something I know all too well. I lived my life for a long time trying to do everything “perfectly”. At the time I didn’t realize why it was so important to me (not God) to do things a certain way. I was trying to be perfect for acceptance/love…we often feel that God views us the same as others do. Because I felt that I needed to be perfect so that others would love me I was doing the same thing with God. Over the last year He has revealed to me that He loves me… because I am His… nothing more nothing less.

4. Mark Tucker on October 25th, 2007 7:43 am

   Perfection in any sense is always a direction to aim for, but cannot really be reached in our fallen state. I believe we can sin much more in effort to be “perfect”, than if we just tried to prioritize what’s important. People matter more than task. Do your best to the glory of God, and let Christ’s perfection be sufficient for us before God.

5. Bob Pounders on October 25th, 2007 8:24 am

   When reading your article on “How Perfect Are We To Be”, I was reminded of Samuel Pugh who wrote:
   AT DAWN

   This is the beginning of a new day.
   God has given me this day to use it as I will.
   I can waste it, or I can use it.
   I can make it a day long to be remembered for its job, its beauty, and its achievement;
   or it can be filled with pettiness and ugliness.
   What I do today is important, for I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
   When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, but I
   shall hold something which I have traded for it.
   It may be no more than a memory; but if it is a worthy one,
   I shall not regret the price.
   I should like it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil;
   success, certainly not failure.
   So here is a day and here am I.
   God will not expect more of me than I am capable of giving,
   but he will expect my best.
   There will be beauty and I must not miss it.
   There will be cries of people in distress, and I must hear and answer.
   There will be moments of temptation, but I must not yield
   nor be impulsive.
   There will be opportunity for good, and I must be ready.
   And then when night comes, may I look back without regret, and forward with a radiant spirit and a thankful heart.

   By Samuel Pugh

6. Jacob Thielman on October 25th, 2007 12:29 pm

   Perfection is an ideal, and only God can fulfill it (in fact, according to Jesus, “there is only One who is good”). Grace is the only bridge between our fallenness and God, and, I think, the only bridge between our love of others and the actual other we encounter. That’s my take on it, anyway.

   FYI, we’ve been having a lively discussion in the comments to “Response to Chad,” and I’d love to have your input on it.

7. Martha Troxel on October 25th, 2007 2:07 pm

   I agree with the earlier comment that one should choose relationships and people over things and tasks.
   In my opinion, your gutters are clean enough. Besides you have snow to deal with so the season for gutter cleaning has passed.
   I totally understand about your pine needles as we have a white pine tree and it gets lots of pine needles in our gutters too. We are hoping to get our gutters covered soon and then the pine needles can go down on the ground to be raked up.That is tons easier than cleaning out gutters!

8. Clif Sheets on October 25th, 2007 5:24 pm

   My response would be - whenever you focus on Christ (eg The Truth Project) you are doing the right thing- the pine needles can wait. Luke 10:38-41

9. Marla on October 25th, 2007 6:06 pm

   My grandmother had a saying for times she couldn’t give it (usually housework) her best due to time pressures. She gave it a “lick and a promise”. I was raised to believe the house should be clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy. If relationships are sacrified because I spend too much time cleaning gutters, then perfectionism seems out of place. There is a time and place for a “lick and a promise.” Although I stive to be like Christ, I know that this perfection I aim for will not fully happen until I see Him face to face.

10. Mike Corum on October 26th, 2007 6:03 am

    Tough being a Christian, isn’t it? Choices to be made, and so many times the choosing is between things that are good (or necessary). But, as one other commented, Mary chose the best.

    I believe Jesus was a people person, and He expects the same of us. From eternity past, God was in relationship within the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is into relationships. Look what He did in order that we might have a relationship with Him!

    I don’t think we are ever to do things “second rate”. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

    Seeing that we live in an imperfect (fallen) world, we live with imperfection. And, knowing that we will never be perfect in this world, we need to make peace with that fact. God certainly accepts us, warts and all. So, we should accept ourselves, as well. We can, it seems, accept imperfection. In fact, if we can’t, life is going to be pretty tough.

    There may be time later to finish the gutters, after the snow melts. For now, there are people who are expecting you to be with them. Which is more important? I believe Jesus would choose the people (relationships), and so I believe He would have us choose the same. If Jesus comes back tonight, or tomorrow, which would you rather have done, the gutters or the visit?

    I know you’ve already made your choice, and feel certain that your take on it will be more mature and much better worded than mine. But, you asked. And, for now I will accept the imperfection of my response. ?

    Besides, I think it was Erma Bombeck who said, “Dust if you must.”

    In Him Who accepts me “Just As I Am”,

    Mike

11. Hope Grace on October 26th, 2007 2:11 pm

    Perfectionism has never been too much of a hang up for me; my husbands another story. My question always boils down to the difference between perfectionism and obsession. What truly NEEDS to be done and what is just our own compulsion. However when it comes to ministry and home I have conflicting emotions.
    I swore as a teenager I would never be a ministers wife because (as someone who was around a lot of ministers) I’d seen to many wives struggling along while there minister husbands were out, ‘Doing the work of the Lord’. I watched these family relationships fall apart. I saw the minister who would clean the church members gutters while his were so full that whenever it rained the basement would flood. I watched there kids fall away from the Lord. I’ve even watched their marriages end. I know, you know what I’m going to say next. I’m a minister’s wife. I struggle with the question. When I have to sacrifice my ‘hubby time’ due to ministry; am I being selfish to want him home or am I being wise because of the things I’ve seen? I don’t know.

12. Jana Koupal on October 26th, 2007 3:45 pm

    Believing our perfection is found only in Christ Jesus, to Him be the glory! He spent countless hours with His desciples teaching and abiding with them. He carried out the work the Father gave Him to do without forfeiting the former. Call the gutters good and your desk a work in progress! Jesus said “come to me, all you who labor and are weary and laden with burdens and I will give you rest”

13. Bob Bodman on October 26th, 2007 5:51 pm

    This situation and the question you pose remind me of what I recently heard in the audio tape of “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis.

    He cites an example of how he, as a young boy with a toothache, did not want to tell his mother about it because he knew his mother would do more than simply give him the aspirin he wanted for the pain. He knew that she would go beyond that and take him to the dentist, where the dentist would start fiddling around with his other teeth and before he knew it, the dentist would start pulling and yanking. He didn’t want to go that far with it.

    He goes on to say that it is the same with our relationship with our Father. We are sometimes afraid to ask for His help because we know He will start fiddling around with the rest of our life (pulling and yanking).

    When we ask for Jesus to come into our lives, He is only interested in perfecting us, ultimately. He will keep fiddlying around with us until he finally, ultimately, achieves perfection. It might take some time and effort. We certainly do not start there, do we?

    I would pray for an Indian Summer and then go back at the pine needles again.

    Bob
    Truckee, CA

14. christine on October 26th, 2007 10:32 pm

    Dear Dr. Tackett,

    Wow, this is a question I struggle with so often. I was raised in a home where perfection was demanded. I did not get meals if my chores were not done perfectly. I remember how difficult it was to acheive my parent’s expectations as a child. Yet, I very much desire order and tidiness in my adult life. God has blessed me with seven beautiful children aged 17 to 2, mostly boys. Since I homeschool, my home NEVER would meet the standards my Mom has for her home!!! I try for balance - I want to teach my kids that they need to work in every job as if they were doing it for Jesus - to be responsible with what we have been blessed with. But on the other hand, if my expectations become damaging then I try to relax. It has always been a challenging question for me. I am interested in your view.

15. Anonymous on October 27th, 2007 12:18 am

    Perfection, the state of lacking nothing essential to the whole.

    It sounds like there might be two different identities that we are discussing; two separate “wholes” that are lacking completeness.

    One is a perfection of our soul. When we are commanded to “be perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect”, He is stating what the position our soul must be in order to be accepted into a sweet and holy communion with God.
    “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood…, why was there still need for another priest to come [Jesus]?” Hebrews 7:11
    Because we cannot perfect our souls, Christ comes and is that perfection on our behalf and then presents holy before the Lord.

    The second is perfection within the physical realms, here on earth. I do believe that Christians are called to a higher standard and thus are a living example and witness to others. While we cannot reach perfection in a physical sense, neglecting the things that God has given us would display disobedience to God and would also give a poor example to those around us.
    “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Thank you for causing us to ponder upon these things. I’m excited to hear your thoughts on this subject.

16. David on October 27th, 2007 7:33 am

    Perfection will come in ‘the’ day, so for now build those relationships….that is what we are here for and in the end there may be some helping hands for you and your full gutters from the one you cared enough to visit.

    Christ visited my small group one day (just me) and gave me the gift of salvation. When I visit His small group(s) - I hope I can help them to hear our masters message and lend them a hand cleaning their own gutters.

    PS: Have you considered a 12 step program for your perfectionism issue?? (It worked for my arrogance)

    In His Grip and Loving it,
    Dave

17. Patrick on October 27th, 2007 11:09 am

    A novice farmer shows off his clean barn to his neighbor. The ground is spotless and feed trough, looks as clean as new. After shooting the breeze a while the experienced farmer invites his friend to come and see what a barn should look like. The young farmer is a little hurt because he can’t imagine a nicer setup than he has.

    They walk over to the neighbor’s farm, all the while discussing the incredible amount of work each of the older farmer’s four oxen can perform. At the barn, hay is strewn everywhere, and the feed trough is covered with dried ox slobber.

    “What is that horrible stench?” asks the young man.

    “That, my friend, is the smell of money.”

    The goal of a farmer is not to have the nicest barn, cleanest trough, or freshest fragrances. His goal is to grow crops and raise animals. To focus on his goal, he lets a few things slide along the way. From sunup to sundown he works hard. He is not lazy or negligent, but he simply has no time to clean troughs and rake out barns. Instead of
    scooping up every piece of manure, he simply wears rubber boots.

    This story, told to me by a friend of mine, seems applicable here. What is the real goal of our attempts at being perfect - to feel good about being perfect or to know God?

    Col. 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” It seems cleaning the gutters ‘as working for the Lord’ would be more about trying to some how know and enjoy Him more through our work. (Of course we’d want to do the job in a way and with a result that pleases Him.)

    But it seems to me that cleaning the gutters ‘for men’ (ourselves?) is more about meeting some standard or law that we set for ourselves. Or perhaps we work so we can feel good about checking it off the list (is anyone else a list-freak for this reason?) - often times without a thought about God in the middle of the work.

    Often times, I find myself, one who is set free from the law, taking relish in holding myself to a law of my own making, rather than enjoying and knowing God. Oh that we would be free from the tyranny of the law of perfectionism to know Christ!

    -Patrick

18. Michael Parente on October 28th, 2007 4:21 pm

    Can’t agree more with those that cited Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha… and determined then and there what was more important- cleaning, cooking or listening to our Savior. In correlation to that lesson, think of the times Jesus visited the many towns to minister to the people and perform miracles. They wanted Him to stay and continue the works He started. But Jesus had to say “no” to good things so He could say yes to the Right thing… and that was to fulfill his mission on Earth by going to the cross.

    Lets learn how to do the same. There are many good things we can do and should… and keeping order (on our house and in our home) is certainly noble. But it’s God’s will we should strive for daily. Competing priorities will always be with us in this age but let’s not forget the greatest commandments… love the Lord and love your neighbor.

19. Yetta Teo on October 28th, 2007 11:36 pm

    I can remember always thinking that if anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well or not at all. However, I was forced to rethink that when confronted with a different line of thought several years ago… Not really contradictory but worth considering.
    My daughter’s teacher shared her husband’s attitude about getting things done around the house. If it is worth doing then it is worth doing regardless of how well it is done. This is not to say that we shouldn’t strive to accomplish it well, but to not do it because we won’t be able to do it according to a certain standard leaves the task undone completely - which perhaps is worse!
    Following is a quote that mentions the quality of work that Jesus did when making plows. It is from a BreakPoint written in 2004. Kinda fits the theme.. re: ordinary tasks. May God be glorified.

    The God of Wooden Plows
    The Splendor of the Ordinary

    BreakPoint with Charles Colson Commentary #040407 - 04/07/2004

    Note: This commentary was delivered by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley.

    Those of you who have seen The Passion of the Christ know that the film is difficult to watch because it reveals the horrific brutality of the scourging and crucifixion of Jesus. But the film does contain one humorous moment, which hints at the high value God places on work.

    The scene shows Jesus at work as a carpenter, finishing a table. His mother comes over to examine it. Her opinion? The table is too high. Not to worry, Jesus responds; He’ll build tall chairs to go with it. Mary is not convinced. As she walks away, she mutters, “It’ll never catch on.”

    The scene is a reminder that Jesus spent most of His life engaged in manual labor. Back in Galilee in the second century, the Christian apologist Justin Martyr said that during his lifetime it was still common to see farmers using plows made by the carpenter Jesus of Nazareth.

    In his book, titled The Call, theologian Os Guinness reminds us that even the humblest work is important if it is done for God. “How intriguing,” Guinness writes, “to think of Jesus’ plow rather than His Cross—to wonder what it was that made His plows and yokes last and stand out.” Clearly, they must have been very well made if they were still in use in the second century.

    Today, Christians typically exalt spiritual work above manual work. After all, what’s making a plow compared with preaching to multitudes, feeding the five thousand, or raising someone from the dead? But the very fact that Jesus did make plows—and made them well—suggests that any work can be done to the glory of God. Any work can be a genuine calling. A calling, Guinness writes, is anything we do “as a response to God’s summons and service.” When God calls us to some task—even if it’s something the world sees as lowly—that task is invested with what Guinness calls “the splendor of the ordinary.”

    “Drudgery done for ourselves or for other human audiences will always be drudgery,” he writes, but “drudgery done for God is lifted and changed.”

    Accepting drudgery is one of the ways we practice discipleship—learning to offer it up sacrificially to God. “We look for the big things to do—[but] Jesus took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet,” Guinness writes. “We like to speak and act out of the rare moments of inspiration—[but] He requires our obedience in the routine, the unseen, and the thankless.” We, His followers, must be willing to take on the humble and thankless tasks as well—and not become impatient with changing diapers, doing homework, or taking out the trash.

    During the week leading up to Easter Sunday, we tend to focus on the sacrificial elements of the life of Christ—of His willingness to suffer and die on our behalf. But we should never forget that the second Person of the Triune Godhead spent much of His life laboring in a woodshop.

    If you are frustrated in your job or think the work you have to do is beneath you, just remember that for a season the One who turned water into wine and raised the dead to life … also made wooden plows.

20. Ross Swanson on October 29th, 2007 7:43 am

    Dr. Tackett:

    My desk is an embarrassment to me. My garage work bench is an embarrassment. With this in mind, I am reminded of what the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)…

    7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

    We have often speculated that the “thorn in the flesh” was a physical ailment, but it could have been any weakness - even an unorganized desk or work bench. Paul made the purpose of his message crystal clear in verse (7) by repeating himself twice: lest I should be exalted above measure, (ie: proud, self-righteous).

    I want to do a better job of organizing my desk and my work bench – and I do it about once a year – but in the meantime, I take solace in my infirmities, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

    Ross Swanson

21. Dan Hagan on October 29th, 2007 8:44 am

    Paul closed this letter to the Corinthians with the following loving and prayerful admonition:

    11Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

    “Aim for perfection” I couldn’t have said it better. May God bless us with a fuller understanding of His Word; and even more importantly, may He bless us with a heart full of Him (the Holy Spirit)!

    Dan…

22. Matt on October 29th, 2007 9:37 am

    In response to Marla:

    I can only say, Amen and Amen and Amen! Life is too short to sacrifice quality time with family, friends and our Lord for something as menial as housework. It would seem the gutters were clear enough to allow melting CO snow to run through (probably loosening some of that mud, btw) and thus the house (a large investment of God’s blessings) was protected… good stewardship! However, trying to make it perfect might have damaged a relationship, and that’s dangerous ground. I believe God is less concerned with what we do, than with who we are!

    SDG,
    Matty

23. Debbie on October 29th, 2007 10:42 pm

    I have to agree with the post by Yetta Teo.
    Whatever we do we should do it as unto the Lord. That means cleaning out pine needles, disciplining our kids, our relationships, spiritual and manual work— all can be done for His glory. God is the potter we are the clay. One may be a beautiful vase to hold flowers and others may be used to haul trash— either way they are used as He desires and for the purpose He has created them for. Both are important and of value in the eyes of the Lord.

    If we fear that a relationship may suffer because of a menial task that needs to be done- why not do the task together? Many hands make light work!

    Debbie

24. sam negron on October 30th, 2007 10:36 am

    A broad stroke at perfection has been my misinterpretation of perception. Let me explain. While in Japan on a business trip I ventured to clarify my perception [since perception is reality for many] of their views concerning virtue. Perfection - being a virtue in Japan - raised a discussion that presented fascinating insights for me from a Christian viewpoint. For instance, in such a culture, perfection is the evil twin of excellence. Excellence: achieving the most with what you have in contrast to the possibility that perfection can become an obsessive-compulsive behavior. Consequently “perfection” is an ongoing work in progress. Are such notions transient from a biblical perspective? Does the Lord call us to do what is right? To do the best we can? To treat others the way we’d like to be treated (Golden rule)? Then it crystallized, once again… that scripture such as Job 28:11 and Prov. 13:12 are the outcome of surrendering ourselves, daily, and allowing Him to be ‘perfected’ in us…just a thought.

25. Cindy on October 30th, 2007 3:16 pm

    I wish I could say I didn’t deal with this, but this is actually a huge struggle for me. I like everything in its place, whether at home or work, more so to make my family proud and my co-workers not dread to see my “space”, than to please myself. Somehow though, at the end of the day, when I bow before my Savior, He never seems to ask how perfect I performed my tasks that day, but reveals the opposite - all of my imperfections in my thoughts, words and actions. All of my weaknesses that are covered by the outside seemingly perfect are then revealed because I cannot hide from those beautiful eyes. I find myself once again asking for His sacrifice to be applied to my life. My precious Savior paid to great a price for my redemption for me not to consume myself with the real goal of this life. I want to run this race as if it is ending today, leaving behind me all the weights of this world and taking with me my family, my friends, those strangers that God places in my path every day that need a hug, a handshake, a smile and most of all a Savior. I will never receive a crown for perfection, but I will for being the one that stands in the gap between Heaven and Hell for someone. Is perfection always right? Not if it is preventing us from being His hands and His feet in this world.

26. Matt Jackson on November 4th, 2007 8:11 pm

    Dr Tackett,

    I’m learning a great deal about world view and truth through you in The Truth Project and thank you for your efforts there. Maybe I’m missing something in this lesson, but will make a few comments anyway.
    First, I am able to glean in the 12 Truth Project tours very helpful insight from your many years of study on these topics. My point is that it is simpler to achieve a higher level of perfection by learning from those who have spent time learning what it is you need to know; in this case cleaning pine needles off a roof and out of gutters. My suggestion is to ditch the broom and extension tool and use a leaf blower.
    The following comments are “tools” I have found to serve well in the job of determining the fine line between “perfection” and “practicality”:
    “If it takes a lot of effort to make something just a little better, it generally isn’t worth it. If it takes a little more effort to make something a lot better, do it”
    “Aim for perfection, but settle for the best you can do”
    As for your gutter cleaning project, don your gloves, fire up the leaf blower and blow those tenacious needles down to the gutter. Anything more than a gutter full will blow over the edge. If they blow back up, you still have that leaf blower in your hand so hit ‘em again. Scoop the needles out of the gutter with a gloved hand combined with the leaf blower action and you are good to go.
    Take your garden hose up there to wash out that sludge: wet it down and let it soak a bit, and then just wash it out the downspout.
    As for worries of perfection, don’t sweat the few needles that remain here and there (there will always be more), as long as water can flow off the roof, through the gutter and out the downspouts you can check that item off your list.

27. Esther on November 5th, 2007 1:01 pm

    I think the Greek word for “be” in Matthew 5:48 is the same “be” in Luke 6:36 where the Lord tells us to be merciful. Be perfect; Be merciful; Be humble, Be holy…
    It sounds like the LORD chooses to use us to show HIMself and His attributes to this world. Wow.

28. Kyle on November 5th, 2007 6:01 pm

    Perfection is but an ideal that only Jesus, because he is God, succeeded at achieving as a man. We can attempt to do our best by understanding and following his teachings and other stories of the Bible but we cannot be perfect. I don’t believe God cares if you have a messy desk or sloppy clothing because these are things of this world or more importantly they are things of this world that do not matter to him. Helping others, helping your nation, being a good parent, worship God, spread the word of God, and other issues I believe are what really maters to God. I am not one to write very much unless necessary and I don’t believe it is necessary, so I hope you get my point.

29. Is on November 6th, 2007 11:37 am

    Maybe this is a cop out… but I tend to prioritize things not only into an order that things must be done but into also groups of which things must be done completely. I have a feeling that it’s my personality. Gutters need to be “pretty good”. Unfortunately I can look at my life right now and see that “pretty good” is good enough for me in most areas, including my relationship with my wife, and with God. I guess I don’t have an answer. Looking at it black and white I think we need to be perfect. I also know that we cannot be, which is why we must rely on God’s grace and mercy.

30. Cindy on November 6th, 2007 11:51 am

    When this Scripture of being perfect was brought up in The Truth Project and then discussed, I was more than taken aback by the heated life the group took on. There were two men (both well educated) who were debating the meaning of this Scripture. One said that we can be perfect and sinless in this life. The other said that it is impossible to achieve such a state until we are in our resurrected bodies.

    I left that discussion confused and frustrated but motivated to find if what I had believed my entire life (that we cannot reach perfection while in a fallen state) was actually true.

    I came home and “hit the books” and prayed until I had peace about it. Based on what I found, the word “perfect” there means complete. We are to be complete through our relationship with our Father. There is no true completion apart from Him.

    Our lives (gutters included) should not be in chaos because that is not of God. We must, however, accept that we are human. We have very real, fleshly limitations that our Father understands. Sometimes we must leave things as they are (gutters included) and accept that we do what we can. We give it God our best and praise Him, He loves and accepts us even when our gutters need to be gutted. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist adding that.

31. Lee Robinson on November 6th, 2007 11:52 am

    Finish the gutters, then go sit by the fire with a hot cup of coffee and peice of dark chocolate. Completing tough jobs brings satisfaction and growth. Avoiding them yields the oppostite.

32. Hui-En on November 6th, 2007 12:04 pm

    It’s extremely interesting and insightful reading all the comments, and this is certainly a thought-provoking topic; something I wonder about too.

    Looking at the verse “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48) in context, it’s interesting to see that Jesus is talking about loving your enemies. What does that have to do with perfection?

    And the next reference to perfection (in the NIV, at least) is Matt 19:21 where Jesus asks the rich young man to sell his possessions and follow him.

    Maybe in the same way that God’s definition of success is different from ours, his definition of perfection is different too. If we’re talking about purity and righteousness, that’s been bought for us with Jesus’ blood already. What about perfection?

33. Anonymous on November 6th, 2007 12:15 pm

    Stimulate the economy - hire some help.

34. Anonymous on November 6th, 2007 12:24 pm

    Perfectionism is a trap that steals the hearts of men. It focuses on what I can do or should do and not who God calls me to be. Great love overcomes what we do and can’t do and falls into the arms of Jesus to lift up the hearts and souls of men to God. The saddest of all human beings are those who spend their lives telling others how they are not perfect or good enough; it comes from this cry within themselves that is never satisfied or content. These will never enter the sabboath rest of God on the earth. “Be still and know that I am God.” When we stop doing and start being His children we are one with His love and purpose.

35. David Constance on November 6th, 2007 12:25 pm

    Go buy an electric/gas blower. My electric blower cleans out the gutters (along w/the mud) faster than we can type these e-mails

    And you can throw the broom away.

36. Patrick Audinet on November 6th, 2007 12:34 pm

    5000 people without food was not a good thing until Jesus turned it into a lesson for the disciples. Nearly swamping the boat was not a good thing until Jesus turned it into a lesson for the disciples. Clogged gutters are not a good thing until you chose to turn it into a lesson for us. Whether or not you finished the job or were on time for the Truth Project meeting is beside the point. You have used the incident to teach, to allow us to focus on an aspect of our imperfect personalities in the light of our Lord.

    It is never good to replace people with projects but when it becomes a decision between the two remember Repentance and Grace. Repent and schedule the gutters better next time and accept God’s Grace to forgive you for being late this time.

    I know how it feels to have a leader visit. Our Home Fellowship leader and his wife stopped by a Home Fellowship meeting one evening and it was a true blessing, a wonderful, Christ filled evening. As Matt said (and I think one other respondent) the water will flow and, who knows it might even wash out the mud.

    With apologies to J. Vernon McGee “May God Richly Bless You”

37. Colleen on November 6th, 2007 12:35 pm

    Though I strive to create beauty and order in my environment which is also a reflection of my kinship with God, this command surely has nothing to do with “perfectionism”. For the most part my perfectionism resembles a puppy strangling itself senseless on the leash fighting the boundaries set for it…

    In context Jesus’ command was referring to God’s love being made perfect or complete within us. We are to consider and treat all people as having the same intrinsic value.

    Well, He said it best, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43

38. Marcus on November 6th, 2007 12:41 pm

    (I didn’t read all the comments, so I might be repeating someone else…)
    1. Um… first thing… Jesus comments about being perfect were in the context of loving all people, especially enemies. So, using that verse as guidelines for cleaning gutters seems to me to be an incorrect use of the Scripture. Again, isn’t the correct use of that scripture to love all people, love enemies? So I would caution using that verse in relation to tasks.
    2. Jesus is our perfection; we must always be careful we don’t try to earn our salvation, growth, blessings, etc. God makes us grow, saves us, etc.(1 Cor 3:5-9).
    3. The Bible continually instructs us to do things well. Whenever my pursuit of excellence becomes inappropriate, or prevents me from loving God, loving others, or loving myself, I refocus my motivation on love.
    Make sense?

39. Bonnie Stone on November 6th, 2007 12:51 pm

    Kyle said it well. I agree that ministry and relationships should come first. Being good stewards of what God has given us is not to be taken lightly but things are things. You are touching the lives of so many through the Truth project. May God Bless you with the time and energy to do those things He sets before you

40. Barry Laduke on November 6th, 2007 12:53 pm

    Del:

    Perfection can be relative (I can’t believe I said that!). When a captain sets sale from New York for a voyage to England, upon leaving the harbor, he does not yet have to have the exact coodinates dialed into his navigation equipment. He only needs to know that he is generally sailing east. When he plots his course, he doesn’t concern himself during the voyage about being a few feet, or miles, one side or the other of the most direct route. It isn’t until he gets much closer that he has to navigate “perfectly.”

    So I believe that we can strive for “practical perfection” in everything we set our hands to do, and do that with all our might. In order to accomplish what was needed to clear your gutters and make them functional for a time, it wasn’t necessary to polish them. I have to say, however, that ya probably should have scraped the muck from the bottom!

    Thank you for your blog. I am edified by it much more often than I contribute to your comments section. I’m sure I’m not the only “lurker” out there who benefits from your insights and questions.

41. Steve Ottaviano on November 6th, 2007 12:59 pm

    As a career member of Wycliffe Bible Translators, a ministry that is the fruit of the labor of many excellent servants, I have always been struck by the statement made by Cameron Townsend, our founder. Faced with staffing and resource shortages in the face of mind-boggling opportunities, he said something like, “Some things are better done poorly than not at all.” I hope I haven’t mis-quoted him too badly. How true this is in ministry and, what do you know, God decides to take our puny effort and make something pleasing to Him out of it!

42. Ruth Gervat on November 6th, 2007 12:59 pm

    To all the perfectionists out there, hear, ye!
    Anything worth doing is worth doing wrong.
    If we wait until we can do a job perfectly we will procrastinate into eternity; we will miss the chance to help a neighbor, write a letter to the editor, comfort a widow, or witness to a stranger.
    Remember, Jesus condemned the servant who hid his talent in the ground because he was afraid of messing up.

43. Glenna Richards on November 6th, 2007 12:59 pm

    Cleaning the gutters properly saves work later, because clogged gutters can lead to ice dams, leaking roofs, damaged ceilings, and everything inside the house that gets leaked on can be damaged or destroyed as well. Cleaning the gutters should be done well enough to avoid these problems. To learn how clean they need to be, get the roofer to explain it to you when he comes out to give you a price for repairing or replacing your damaged roof. Some roofers will also clean gutters. Eventually, replace your gutters with the kind that don’t clog. Meanwhile, be a good steward and clean the gutters well enough to avoid damage to your house and its contents. Part of being a good steward is knowing that “perfection” is often the enemy of getting necessary jobs finished.

44. Tobi Gentry on November 6th, 2007 12:59 pm

    I think Christ has called us to be perfect as He is perfect. Christ through his sacrifice on the Cross has made us perfect and acceptable to the Father. We cannot do anything successfully or perfectly without the help of the Holy Spirit.
    We need to lay our plans before the Lord and He will allow them to succeed according to his will.
    I think we need to ask the Lord to help us to keep our goals and our plans lined up with furthering God’s kingdom.

45. Teresa O'Leary on November 6th, 2007 1:02 pm

    This is one I definitely struggle with. What am I to do with my desire for order? Which answers part of the question for me. Who’s desire am I seeking to fulfill? We should be good stewards of all God has given us, including not allowing our homes to fall into a state of disrepair. For me, I have to back to a concept Jesus presented earlier in Matthew chapter 5, which is examining the motive of the heart where it comes to fulfilling the law. Is it to glorify God or do I just want it a certain way? When faced with choosing between cleaning the bathroom and playing a game with my kids (4 and 6), or talking with a friend who is going through a difficult time, the perfectionist in me wants a spotless bathroom. Jesus in me wants the multitude of blessings that come from having invested in the lives of others.

46. Nadia Marler on November 6th, 2007 1:06 pm

    I may be jumping the gun. But I learned first hand gutters need to be cleaned out. I have a damaged ceiling to prove it. I was given a house to live in but had know idea how to take care of it. Or did I? I grew up in a house were my father took care of most of the maintenance of the house. I did see him clean out the gutters but I didn’t know it was important just thought my dad like the gutters to look clean. Note: My parents kept a very orderly house. One of the chores I had given by my father was to pull weeds and some other lawn maintence Note: We had a girls in the family. My only brother went to be with the Lord early on my mothers pregnancy. I never questioned anything I just blindly went about obeying my father. You see I wanted to please my father he loved and still loves me very much. To be continued?

47. Vickie Carpenter on November 6th, 2007 1:20 pm

    If clean gutters are REALLY important to you, and if you don’t absolutely love cleaning them yourself, hire someone to do it ‘right’ every few years (and/or get those gutter covers)! God knows that we can only do what we can do. The biggest task is prioritizing.

    I had several personal losses and emotional setbacks in 2004 leaving me so depressed that I did practically nothing for 3 years; but the world didn’t stop. Relationships have become even more meaningful to me, though.

    To borrow come cliches, let’s keep the main thing, the main thing; and don’t sweat the small stuff!

48. Dwight Wilkins on November 6th, 2007 1:33 pm

    Mr Tacket

    Maybe perfection in this case is doing what Moses learned to do. Get some people to help cary the load.

49. Kim on November 6th, 2007 1:33 pm

    This is a great question and although I can totally see the point that everyone else is making about the relationship vs menial task…I also see the stewardship card being laid. As a ranch manager, I know that some tasks that seem menial are actually very important to the stewardship of the ranch. Winterizing the ranch before the first storm is vital because it is very difficult to remove frozen water to put in tank heaters. Roads that aren’t bladed before it snows means scraping snow off is pointless. In this case, the gutters must be cleaned to save future deterioation to the house even though it seems as though its only tidying up it’s function to protect the structure of the home will be compromised if full of pine needles. I have spent several hundreds of dollars on a heating unit repair because of overflowing gutters that allowed the winter storms to freeze up the unit just below them (not to mention it was cold then and the heater wasn’t working!). I know that timing is important. Yes, the hard truth is the gutters should have probably been cleaned out days ago or weeks ago– before the time crunch interfered with relationships. Maybe we just need to be better planners.

50. Lisa on November 6th, 2007 1:53 pm

    I may be mistaken to believe this, but I once heard that the Greek or Hebrew word that was used in that passage is more literally translated as “compassion.” That we should be compassionate, therefore as our heavenly Father is compassionate. Thus perfection would lie in pefecting our compassion.

51. Martha on November 6th, 2007 1:59 pm

    Well, I’ve read almost all of the posts and have come to the conclusion that few of these folks understand the thinking of a person whom God has ‘blessed’ with this innate desire for ‘earthly perfection’ - not to mention the full nature of a pine needle: prickly, slippery, magnetic as you mentioned, with the ability to twist and lodge in the most unusual and hard to get to places! The combination of these two things could even inspire a column!

    Jesus said it was good for Mary to sit and worship Him, but He didn’t tell Martha to sit down at that moment - someone had to do the preparations. We each have different purposes at different times.

    While we are affected by our environment, we are simply born with that gene that desires earthly perfection or the one that allows others to live happily in squalor. Obviously, the middle ground might work best, but that is not the way we are born. Of my two oldest grandsons, one cannot stand for his hands to be sticky while he’s eating, and the other one rubs the jelly in his hair - and couldn’t care less! They were born that way.

    I think it truly takes all types to make the world go round. It takes the hard-driven and determined perfectionist types to invent most of the necessities and luxuries in our lives. Thomas Edison was the first person to produce a viable light bulb that could be used in every home, and it took him thousands of attempts. I, for one, am very grateful that he and others were so committed to that task. Some people thought they were wasting their time!

    Now, as gutters and piles of paperwork go, making order out of chaos is very therapeutic - and often necessary, - for us ‘perfectionists.’ While this can be a good thing, there can also be too much of a good thing. Everything in moderation.

    First, even if we tried to compare ourselves to Jesus, we must remember that he was a carpenter for most of his life - and probably a ‘perfectionist’ when it came to his woodwork…just like he was a ‘perfectionist’ when he came to be our Saviour!

    Some days or hours, we are called to clean the gutters or take care of paperwork, and other times to spend with family, friends, and in Bible study or teaching.

    There is no ‘pat’ answer for this dileamma, so I look forward to reading your answer - from one perfectionist to another!

    P.S. You might consider hiring someone to take care of the gutters if you feel you are called to use your time elsewhere.

52. Rossanna on November 6th, 2007 2:01 pm

    Very good question!! It has definetly made me ponder. I believe we ought to be perfect in every thing we do. ALthough it may seems hard, but in Christ one could reach it. He has made us complete.
    I think that our homes deserve to look nice, organize and clean, inside-out. I do believe that God really cares for how things (our belognings) look around us because He is a God of order and we have to imitate Him. We see His order in His creation on the way and time He created all things.

    Thank you for letting us ponder in this important aspect of our daily lives. WOW!

53. stephanie mason on November 6th, 2007 2:03 pm

    I am a perfectionst too. At work I can keep my desk looking perfect but at home well lets just say it looks like a Georgia tornado came through. It use to drive me crazy with two kids,husband and full time job till my dad made a statement that changed my outlook on these things. He said Steph you will always have dirty dishes to wash and clothes to fold but your kids won’t always be small they grow up so fast. Since then I value my time more than my perfection.

54. Kenneth Mangold on November 6th, 2007 2:37 pm

    Del
    I quickly scanned they entries and did not see my suggestions. Use a leaf blower to blow needles off roof. Install leaf guards on gutters so they will not be caught. Or better yet, hire someone to do that dangerous job for you! Can’t afford to hire someone? Live in a condo.

    Now as far as perfectionism is concerned; only God is perfect. For us to try, is to guarantee failure. I solved the problem years ago by striving to be average for me. That is, know your abilities and strive to be mediocre to your personal abilities. That will free you to produce rather than doubt. Your average, may be far superior to someone elses average, but not equal to God’s perfection.

    Now go change the world with your dynamite “Truth Project”. Which, by the way, is not perfect, but has the potential to shake the secular-progressive movement.

55. Beth on November 6th, 2007 2:40 pm

    Most often, part of our imperfection, is our perfectionism. It detracts from some really important things in life…mainly praising God.
    Hope the gutters are clean by now!
    God bless!

56. Ron Lindroth on November 6th, 2007 2:43 pm

    You pose an interesting question Del, however I find the responses even more interesting. I do not view myself as a perfectionist, just a person who likes to do good work. I have found the label of perfectionist applied to anyone who does a better job on a project than you and you feel guilty about the quality of your own work.
    In the case of gutters, why do they need to be cleaned in the first place? Is it to fill an internal need of a perfectly ordered home exterior, or to keep water flowing off the roof to avoid damage to the home? As a firefighter, I can not help but notice the risk you take with the pine needles on your roof, gutters, and yard. What if the bluster wind brings a fire instead of snow, which is a very realistic possibility living in the mountains? How about the sludge build-up that will eventually rot the gutter, requiring it to be replaced?
    It seems as though we fall for the “Tyranny of the or, versus the genius of the and.” Why not have clean gutters and visit your friends? So often our lack of time leads to letting details go, only to have a much bigger problem later. Remember the old nursery rhyme “For want of a nail, the Kindom was lost”? For those of us that need scripture to validate the argument, I would offer “Remember the foxes, the little foxes…” Life takes time to live responsibly.

57. Mark Bauer on November 6th, 2007 2:47 pm

    Del,

    My wife is a homemaker who loves to keep the house clean, orderly, and running like a perfectly well oiled machine. On the days when I get home from work and the house looks like a tornado swept through, I can count on the fact that she has been talking with other women (or our adult daughters) who are facing struggles in their lives and need a receptive ear and a reassuring voice. So for each sock hanging from the ceiling fan, or pile of leaves that the dogs have brought in with them, I have to smile knowing that each represents another life that she has touched and shared the strength God has given her.

    So when the choice comes down to things in perfect order, or nurturing relationships with fellow believers (and prayerfully some “soon-to-be” believers)…..I think she has that decision spot on.

    May God bless us with more messy homes, cluttered desks, and full gutters!

    Mark

58. Bethel Baumann on November 6th, 2007 2:51 pm

    “gutter cleaning ideas”

    Recruit your son or daughter who will be better on the ladder with you at the bottom securing the ladder and instructing and encourageing them. If neither are available, then look for a boy who needs employment and spiritual encouragement or discipling to be up on the ladder. It is always more fun and faster to have someone help you with a job. With this help you will have more time to get ready for the Truth Project group that evening.

    Bethel Baumann

59. Ray on November 6th, 2007 2:56 pm

    Mr. Tackett
    How blessed I am by the Truth Project, thank you. Regarding your “perfection” statement, we are to do all work for the glory of God no matter what it is. But, I don’t beleive that this verse is talking about that. Some versions say “be holy as I am holy”, with that many christians will say that we can’t be “holy” or “perfect”. Well, here’s my answer. I am created in Gods image. Part of His image is “holy” and/or “perfect”. That means that part of my image is “holy” or “perfect”.I should be with the LOrds help and conviction living closer and closer to being holy. When people look at me and my dad they will say “you can tell their related, they have alot of characteristics that are the same. I am not my dad and my dad is not me. But, people will always say I look like my dad or I act like him. This is the same thing with being “perfect” or “holy”. Can people tell who we are related to? Can they say “You know, you’re just like your Father, God, I see alot of Him in you”. I want God to say to me the same thing He said to King David, Here is a man after my heart.

60. Delia Griesbaum on November 6th, 2007 2:58 pm

    Second Rate vs. Perfection

    Being a reformed/recovering perfectionist, I’ve come to learn the difference between desiring perfection and being a perfectionist. The former is the desired goal. The latter is an illness, in the form of bondage that robs us of our peace, joy, and rest. The Lord’s truth has set us free indeed; thus we shouldn’t be enslaved to anything- including perfectionism. Our Adversary, who is the father of lies and loves to accuse the believer, can easily spin us into believing that not achieving perfection is equivalent to being second rate. Lastly, per Scripture, perfection will not be achieved until that day when we reach our glorified state. However, that doesn’t prevent us from doing “everything with excellence as unto God” despite not achieving perfection. Thus, the two can be mutually exclusive- second rate vs. perfection.

    Because of Jesus,
    Delia

61. Cindy on November 6th, 2007 3:07 pm

    Dear Sir,
    This is my first time reading this blog and I very much apprciate what you are saying because early in my Christian walk I suffered with this a lot. The Lord Jesus became my Lord when I was 28, and I had been sinned against a lot as a child and I had also lived a very sinful life. I struggled with the need for love and acceptance all of my life–and never found it. So guess what? I tried to continue trying to be a perfect person for my Lord so that He would accept me, I even believed that I had to do certain things a certain way and only do ‘godly’ things in order for my Father to love and accept me. Legalism!!! I did not believe that I would lose my salvation, thankfully the Lord made that clear to me early on, but I wanted to please Him. My view of unconditonal love was so very distorted by my abusive childhood and my completely messed up teenage and adult years. I had always sought after love and acceptance in the wrong ways. I so needed someone to sit me down and show me what it meant to be truly loved by my Father in heaven. We as a church need to do that for new believers that have been through a lot during their lives and explain to them that God’s love is perfect and that the only thing that we have to do is soak in His living water and obey the things HE tells us through His word, and keep a pure heart by coming to Him for cleansing when we do sin. Abiding in Him keeps us from perfectionism. True fellowship with our Lord is seeking Him with all of our hearts and allowing Him to guide us in all truth and following His path.

62. Jodiea on November 6th, 2007 3:28 pm

    I think I’ve learned lately what it means to have the right motive, as associated with the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. (I’m still learning and I may not be completely right!) The spirit of the law may be when you do something because you want to do it, because you enjoy it, and the letter of the law may be when you do something because you feel obligated to, or when you think you will get something for it. God wants us to do things because we want to help others, not because we’ll get a reward for it. Jesus has given us everything we will ever need, we will not get anything more by obeying the law. He wants us to do things that help others because we WANT to help others. So maybe that means God’s calling for your life is His work, this site, encouraging His people. Unless not doing your chores will hurt your family, you shouldn’t worry yourself because I believe he will tell you what to do about that. God is supreme and because you are His, He will make sure you do what you need to do. Just pray and have peace that He is in control.

63. barb on November 6th, 2007 3:43 pm

    This was such a great topic for me! I was raised with this ideal of perfectionism. I still hold “perfect” as an admirable goal but through my relationship with Christ, I have learned to let go. Perfectionists can view anything less than perfection as apathy or a “cop out”. I am learning to strive for my best but allow God to shape me and my perspective. His goals are good, right for me and PERFECT! Now that’s a blessing.

64. Andrew Paisley on November 6th, 2007 4:09 pm

    Dr. Tackett, I know how you can do a more perfect job with your pine needles. Instead of the tools you used, I use a portable leaf blower. The more powerful the better. My gutters look beautiful, like new. As for perfection, this raises the question, has Jesus given us a command that we cannot possibly obey? Peter repeated the old testament when he told us to “Be Holy as He is Holy” My response is a perfect God cannot expect anything less than perfection or Holiness or he wouldn’t be Perfect or Holy. So, it’s more of a reflection of God’s character than a request to do the impossible. Does that mean we just accept the fire insurance and not attempt to be Holy or Perfect? No, may it never be! As we mature in our Christian walk and we are transformed by God’s word and God’s work in our lives, we become more like him, more “perfect” and holy. That is what is so great about the Christian walk. I have 20 guys coming to my house Sunday nights and they cannot get enough of The Truth Project. Thank you and FOF for putting this together.

65. Steve Covarrubias on November 6th, 2007 4:17 pm

    Perfection.We squirm under this sctrutinizing all seing eye that constantly points to our imperfections.But as devoted and passionate followers of Christ we should not remove the force of its meaning by placing human standards upon this command of Jesus.He did say, “Be perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” Feel the squirm. The almost hopeless feeling of human despair? Keep in mind that it is in a wonderful way that God himself can orchestrate a universe with such fine tuning that all functions cosmologically to perfection, to then be the recipients of pine needles stuck in our rain gutters causing a very untidy situation. And all by the hand of the one who orders the very winds of the natural world.Perhaps it serves as a deeper lesson to touch the inner man in such a way that we take notice of the Lord’s marvelous ways. I remember an unsaved relative saying, “I hate carrots! Why did God make carrots!” To which I humbly replied, “Perhaps to get your attention.” But on this note of ‘perfection’ I offer this observation using a 64′ Chevy Impala. My son in his childhood years wanted to make a model. So I purchased a Chevy Impala model kit for beginners. It was his first model. I loved building models all my life, so I was set to get him going.The perfect picture is on the front of the box. I pointed to that and said, “This is what you want it to look like.” Now an 8 yr old boy is not going to get it to look like that. However, I placed before him the highest standard of perfection so he could execute all of his inborn skills as we proceeded to build this model to perfection. The result, to say the least, was an 8 year old version of the model. But I did not scold him for the inferiority but applauded him for his successes in the endeavor.In closing, I believe that is what Jesus does. What else would anyone expect from deity, but for him to demand no less than total perfection as seen in the Father. To expect less would be demonic.As we mature our lives should always be looking more like our perfect model, Jesus Christ.

66. Sandi Michon on November 6th, 2007 4:34 pm

    After you got the pine needles out, you should have put a thin line of dish detergent in the gutters… once the snow thawed and you got a heavy rain… the rest of the job would be done!
    JUST kidding… but, hey, maybe it would work…

67. Steve on November 6th, 2007 4:35 pm

    As humans, time may be the most valuable resource God has given us to steward. Striving for perfection in what we do with our time may lead to “apparent compromises” that are actually entirely appropriate.

68. Lisa Locke on November 6th, 2007 4:41 pm

    I feel your pain in the struggle between “doing all to the glory of God” and being a Mary in a Martha world. I am the director of a crisis pregnancy center, and there is always more to be done. But the Lord frequently reminds me that He is with me in this thing, and He will make sure what needs to be done gets done, whether I am the one doing it or not.
    So many times I feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of the task ahead of me–data to enter, floors to mop, files to go over, emails to read (and I’ll match messy desks with you any day!) Then a woman in crisis or a volunteer with a heavy heart walks in the door and perspective is restored.
    It’s a balancing act sometimes, but as long as He’s there to keep me on track, it seems to work!

69. Ward Snearly on November 6th, 2007 4:43 pm

    Dear Dr. Tackett,

    I say that you should remove the gutters as they are interfering with what God intends for you to do. Shouldn’t we try to remove obstacles from our lives which get in the way of our relationship with God and with others? These gutters seem to fit the bill as obstacles. I am not sure why you need them so eliminate this distraction and frustration. Then you will have restored order and can devote your time and talents to helping us remove obstacles from our lives and see clearly where God is leading us.

70. Gary Glosner on November 6th, 2007 5:08 pm

    Watch tour 12, hire the kid next door to do it.

71. Kristen on November 6th, 2007 5:12 pm

    How appropriate this blog is for me right now. For the past week or so, I have been so extremely busy (teacher and coach) that I have been unable to really clean off my desk. I walked in this morning and thought, “AHH! My desk is driving me crazy!” Then I read your blog!
    I am by no means a perfectionist, but one of the things that I do like is a clean desk. For me, I have been able to leave it at the end of the day with a clean conscience; knowing I have more pressing issues to attend to, but I pay for it when I come into my classroom in the morning and see my desk overrun with papers and books.

    So, I suppose a person can walk away from the task at hand, knowing that something more pressing is going on. They would just have to realize that by not finishing the job at hand, there will be a bigger consequence next time.

    Thanks for your blog!

72. Tad Newberry on November 6th, 2007 5:44 pm

    Well, the bible is pretty clear, though few churches preach it anymore. Instead, the prevailing thought seems to be that we can’t REALLY be perfect before we die, so why try? Also, when you delete purgatory from your theology, it leaves quite a hole. On the other hand, most protestants believe in a sort of “purgatory” in that most teach that a person becomes instantly “perfect” upon their death…though i don’t know where this was ever taught in scripture or in historic Christianity. Really, this modern view is nothing more than an instant “purging” of the final sins before entering heaven…which is exactly what Purgatory is.

    Jesus, Paul, the bible, and the church have been quite clear: we ARE to strive to be perfect in this life. (Otherwise, why all the passages about living a holy life, etc.?) To the degree we aren’t perfected at death, it seems God in His mercy has provided a way (only via the blood of His Son) for us to complete the process since we all know that no sin can be in the presence of the Lord.

73. Tad Newberry on November 6th, 2007 5:48 pm

    i should’ve added in my last reply that i think too often we have changed the discussion from true perfection to “perfectionism”, these deflecting the entire spiritual nature of the discussion.

    i don’t think God gives a rat’s behind about our “perfectionism”, unless we misuse or abuse other people in the process, and is far more concerned about the perfection of our souls…which is, i think, what scripture is referring to on this topic.

74. Jim Moyer on November 6th, 2007 5:56 pm

    “Perfect” really means “mature.” The mature thing is to hire someone that knows what they are doing, i.e. they don’t fall off ladders and they know how to clean out gutters. Speaking of gutters: God pulled me out of one (mirey clay and all) and I was stickey and pointed and difficult to deal with … kept jumping back on the roof. But he hired and expert, JC himself, along with an architect friend that told me how to get unstuck. Now I am perfect in JC’site and still working on the maturity part!

75. Sharon Clark on November 6th, 2007 7:19 pm

    Oh, Dr. Tackett and Fellow-Perfectionists!

    Having lived with ponderosa needles– and now the constant seige of micro-sized fir/hemlock/cedar seeds & needles– I can relate to your frustration of the endless clogged gutters! but now that I’m a senior citizen I try to redeem some wisdom-coupons and think a little differently about the pressures I put upon myself!

    When a job-started begins to dominate the time apportioned to it, I think of Jesus saying, “Do not worry about tomorrow–each day has enough trouble of its own”! How easy it is to get out of balance, and find the day slipping by while one “dirty job” leads to another. My perfectionism can throw me right into O/C. Then, nobody’s happy because mama’s not happy!

    Insistence vs. persistence–I believe–often pits us against God’s call for patience, because He is patient and not in the hurry I am! Who says the job is a failure if it’s not completed then and there? I do! Does He?? God calls us to rest, ponder, and run our perspectives past His image for a spiritual-check. He restores our body and soul–and we live to fight another day! And those around us rejoice!!

    Sharon

76. David Rawls on November 6th, 2007 7:19 pm

    Dr. Del, What an interesting topic for so many. The replies are wonderful! I’m wondering if the “pefection” referred to in scripture is not the “perfect peace” which passes understanding? The “peace” that allows us to live with all of the “compromise” which this material world forces upon us?? Just a bit different “facet” of the diamond of truth. Thanks and bless you and yours with health, wealth, and PEACE about gutters.

    P.S. Call the insurance company soon.

77. brenda gaston on November 6th, 2007 7:39 pm

    When I was raising my 3 children, I neglected my housework to a certain extent & spent the time on the floor playing with the kids. I read them the Bible & told stories, read many Christian books to them as well as played games. I don’t regret not getting all my chores done. We have precious memories & a close relationship.
    Mary & Martha are a good example of the perfection question. Jesus didn’t condemn Martha for being busy, but told her Mary had chosen the more important thing.

78. Fed Davis on November 6th, 2007 7:40 pm

    Instead of a question of perfection, I see this as an issue of balance. You could focus solely on your work and neglect the possessions that God has entrusted to you. You could focus on the stuff and neglect your calling.

    The only way to do it all, and do it perfect, is to have infinite time and energy. Short of that, you need to do your best at what you do… do it as unto the Lord… and make sure you can do enough of what is most important… and do it as well as you can given limited resources.

    My issue is that I forget to include some things that have to be done. These are things that are important, but not urgent. Spending simple quiet time with my aging father or with my young daughters are both so important, but sometimes don’t take their proper place on the list.

    So in summary, do the most important things to the best of your God given abilities, knowing that those abilities may need to be rationed out to many competing things.

79. benniemac on November 6th, 2007 7:51 pm

    Doc, do as i learned several years ago.. i go on to the roof with my leaf blower and starting at the top. blow your roof and gutters clean.. they must be dry for this to work effectively,
    and start at the top with what needs to be perfected. Your relationship with Christ,your wife and family and so on… but you allready knew this…..because you know what Christ spent the most of his time doing……
    God Bless

80. Sondra Moore on November 6th, 2007 10:11 pm

    The thought that strikes me is where is the heart, what was the intent. Were you just going to haphazardly clean the gutters or were you looking at the big picture of what would happen should you not clean them adequately.

    Is that not our daily life? Do we just sluff our way through to get to tomorrow, or do we live the moments through the day with purpose.

81. Cindy Laird on November 7th, 2007 12:31 am

    This question reminds me of a special verse that has always given me encouragement when I would feel down on myself for not having a perfect house. My husband and I have ten children, and have homeschooled now for 23 years. There have been many more days of a messy house than a perfectly clean one. Then I found Proverbs 14:4. “Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.” I have paraphrased it to mean, “Where no children are, the house is clean, but many blessings come by the raising of children.” In other words, let’s get our priorities straight!

82. Juli Daniels on November 7th, 2007 4:23 am

    It’s not about perfection. It’s about obedience.

    Then we have to be careful that we’re not trying to be perfectly obedient.

    I agree with all those who’ve said that a relationship with Christ is more important than what we do. I realize sometimes we have to “do” things too. However, I believe that if our desk is not perfectly clean when we leave, or if our gutters are not perfectly clean when we have to go to another appointment, we are not necessarily disappointing God. There have been many an occasion I’ve asked God for the time to clean, to be able to organize, and He guides me to do just that.

83. nora buttram on November 7th, 2007 4:28 am

    My thoughts were on the same line as Maria’s.
    Millions of perfect works cannot earn our salvation, yet this does not mean that works are not important. We do our part of repenting of our sins, inviting Jesus into our hearts and confessing Him to the world. He has to do the perfecting work in us.
    You did your part in taking the time and making the effort to clean your gutters. The desire of your heart and your motivations were right. You did your best and now you need to allow God to perfect your work. The snows will melt, soften the mud and rinse out the necessary mud so that your gutters will allow the water to run freely.
    I believe if we allow the Holy Spirit to constantly monitor the desires of our hearts, apply our best efforts when given the opportunity, then allow God to take care of the results, our lives will run freely. God’s will will be accomplished, because He is sovereign, and the glory will be His, because our work is necessary but inadequate for perfection.
    You will find that in God’s order, there is always a balance, and that is the example we should strive to follow.

84. Rev. Raymond Driskill on November 7th, 2007 8:09 am

    We are captured in a small speck of time to get things done. God lives outside of time (Eternity). How minute we are compared to eternity. If I were to keep everything neat around me, I would be busy keeping order and nothing else. There wouldn’t be time to create or reach to others in need.
    When satan entered the world chaos was created out of God’s order. in other words the creation God made, was stained. God didn’t like it but out of it we were to learn how to trust and love. Love has to be given. love is something that couldn’t be given automatically
    because love can only be given by a choice.
    So what order are we talking about, earthly or heavenly? Mary and Martha are good examples. Mary chose to be at Jesus feet and get her heavenly house in order instead of her earthly house for it falls. Order, I believe that I must get heavenly in order for that is my deepest desire. Earthly things will pass away. Ray

85. Cynthia on November 7th, 2007 12:04 pm

    Two verses come to mind:

    “And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

    And,

    “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43-45

86. Chris McCoy on November 7th, 2007 1:17 pm

    Dear Brother, Being perfect, emmm, I think that we are dogged by this idea constantly. I came face to face with my flawed understanding of this a few years back when I had a physical breakdown with chronic all over pain, and chronic fatique. I believe trying to be perfect (afterall aren’t Christians suppose to be perfect?) contributed to my illness. It all goes back to the garden and ‘the lie’, that we could be as God. With out realizing it I spent my life trying to be perfect, and underneath that concept I was trying to make God proud of me, or myself more acceptable to Him and to others. We are right now made perfect in Christ Jesus because we have chosen to believe in and depend upon Jesus. Now I have learned not to look to myself to be this so called perfect person. I look into the loving eyes of my Father, because of His great love for me chose to make me perfect in Christ Jesus. I no longer strive after this elusive goal of being perfect, but rest in the fact that I am perfect or complete in Christ. I’ve come a long way from the mind set that made me so ill. I’m learning to listen to His voice, walk in His Spirit, depend on His strength, and whatever flaws or imperfections that still reside in me I leave in my Father’s care. Because when it comes right down to it. That’s no longer me. Like Paul said, that it is no longer he that sins, but the sin within his flesh. I no longer fear falling short. I have calm assurance that I am in the hands of a loving God Who is molding me and making me into the creature that he already sees as complete or perfect. I’ve learned to let Him be God, and I remain His beloved daughter. I am the creature, He is the creator.
    Selah!

87. Katie on November 7th, 2007 1:29 pm

    Given that this is my 1st read of this site, I realize that I may be missing the whole ballgame. I saw a lot of good thinking in the previous comments. However, with the intent to be “perfect” look for creative ways to be more efficient with task of maintenance and time. When the house is reroofed, the gutters will be taken down. Leave them off, they may not be providing a worthwhile benefit. A lot of our “stuff” that requires time and energy to maintain needs to goooooooooooo so we can have time for what is more important.

88. Michelle Jones on November 7th, 2007 2:34 pm

    One thing I’ve had to learn is that there aren’t always “right” answers. Sometimes you just have to do the best at the time, and thank God that He knows your heart, and makes things work out in spite of us.

89. Becky Hay on November 7th, 2007 2:47 pm

    Dell,

    I have to jump in for those of us that are more “task” oriented in contrast to the many comments I have read that are more “relationship” oriented. God has gifted each of us within the body of Christ: some to be those with gifts of mercy, hospitality, etc - those more relational, and some to be those with gifts of administration, leadership, etc - those more task oriented. If we choose relationship over task every time, what a disfunctional & unpleasant place this could be! Both sides work together for God’s glory to accomplish His purpose.

    On another note, I am convinced (although I struggle with it daily) that if I seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, God will direct whether I am to focus on a task or relationship at each moment. I must start my day by asking, “God, what is it you would have me doing today?” He will be faithful to provide me that direction. So, I’m afraid that the pine needles must be tackled, unless God presents you with something else on His agenda for you that day.

    Looking forward to your answer on this one -
    Becky Hay
    Apple Valley, MN

90. PK on November 7th, 2007 3:14 pm

    I would add that it’s the way in which you work (happily, as if towards God Himself) that matters more than the outcome. We’re all differently gifted (in patience as well as ability). It might take me twice as long to do the same job. Does this make me deficient in some way?

    Your task falls under stewardship and is worthy of your time. You can only give it the time that you have. I recognize that as an excuse, and I’m assuming you were working dilligently.

    Should you have not done any of it, believing you weren’t going to “finish” it as you would like? Unlikely.

    Dilligent work with a proper perspective and thankfulness is healthy, no matter how much you get done.

91. Harvey Hall on November 7th, 2007 3:59 pm

    Dr. Tackett,

    Congratulations on turning a mundane chore into a thought provoking lesson on the appropriate use of time and keeping competing interests in perspective.

    The comments run the gamut between obscure spiritual insights to practical advice on better ways to clean pine needles from gutters. In the latter category, I think those who recommended slotted covers for the gutters and Matt Jackson’s comprehensive plan for using a leaf blower and a water hose instead of a broom offer excellent solutions to the original problem you described.

    However, it is with kind affection and the utmost respect for your considerable abilities that I raise the following question; Have you considered whether you are exercising true Biblical faith or merely being presumptuous when you put your life in jeopardy by attempting such dangerous work apparently alone and without any safety equipment?

92. Jim Koenig on November 7th, 2007 4:07 pm

    We all live in an imperfect sinful world, and we all carry the imperfect nature of Adam, so how can we expect to be perfect in everything we do?

    The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were known for their “perfection” in terms of outward behavior. Yet, inwardly, they were rotting, bitter, unloving men. So outward perfection is just a facade. Jesus desires us to be perfect on the inside, where all of our thoughts originate and where our actions and attitudes begin. None of us can even be close to achieving inward perfection. All we can do is allow the Holy Spirit to work inside of us and strive for the Godly standard that Jesus put before us in scripture.

    Jim Koenig

93. Gary Kelly on November 7th, 2007 6:23 pm

    What does God look for in us? Whether it be perfection or to be holy as He is holy. How can “we” possibly attain perfection or holiness? Both are products of righteousness. Not our righteousness (Isa 64:6), but the righteousness of God which is “if ye love Me, keep my commandments.” Is He Lord of our all or only when His commandments are in line with our “lives?” What are we to seek FIRST? The Kingdom of God and His ???? - and then all these “things” will be added…(See the Righteousness page on EarsToHear.net for much more on this “opinion.” You’ll gain a new perspective whenever you see the words righteous or righteousness in His Word. God Bless.

94. Jan Ward on November 7th, 2007 9:38 pm

    Lots of great thoughts and comments here. I do sympathize with the gutter situation, as we fight the pine needles here in Texas as well. As a side note, I will tell you that our gutters got backed up a couple of weeks ago during a heavy rain and caused a water leak (and subsequent repair) to the sheetrock on the ceiling. So while people are priority, cleaning the gutters occasionally is definitely a stewardship issue and something that has to be done - not out of compulsion but out of necessity! The Scripture does say “Whatever you do, do it as UNTO the Lord”. So don’t feel bad about cleaning those gutters! You can still spend your time on that ladder in prayer, praise and giving thanks to God that you have a house, gutters and yes, even pine needles!

95. tabitha on November 7th, 2007 11:15 pm

    I really love the first comment that pointed out the Mary and Martha scripture.

    Good luck. I live in Alaska and am feeling that cold front hit us. Winter is on the way.

96. Keith Lassiter on November 8th, 2007 6:05 am

    Isn’t it about the desire of the heart for perfection even though it is far from our grasp? I do what I can and allow the desire to compel me to do better without becoming frustrated that I cannot be as perfect as my desire drives me to be realizing that it is He who is in me who is about the work of perfecting me after all. It is good to desire to do, to be, better even perfect. It is wrong to beat oneself up because we fail to fully accomplish what it is we desire to accomplish.
    Sure, gutters are always going to be dirty and getting more and more filled with junk and there are solutions. Sometimes we are the problem in those areas too. Perhaps we shouldn’t put gutters where we know we will not be able to keep them clean.

97. Ellie on November 8th, 2007 11:19 am

    Dr Tacket!
    I agree with Gary Glosner on November 6th, 2007 5:08 pm - Hire the boy next door or someone who is dependent upon YOUR gutters being clean to put food on his table for his family. That way you can get onto the call for YOUR life with The Truth Project! Blessings on you as you continue your work for the Lord Jesus Christ.

98. Martha on November 8th, 2007 12:20 pm

    One more thought…

    When I had my new cream colored gutters put up, the sales pitch was that they would never need painting.

    He did tell me about one customer, a retired army officer, who waxed and polished his gutters once a month to keep them new looking.

    Now, you thing YOU are a perfectionist????

    Martha

99. Marion D. Teeter on November 8th, 2007 12:49 pm

    Get on your roof with a gas blower and you’ll be done in 15 minutes.

100. Cassie on November 8th, 2007 5:29 pm

     I’d get a metal roof and cover my gutters. Then let the snow do the job of cleaning the roof as it slides off.(Does that work?) In the meantime, nothing we do is perfect anyway, we just think it is. My kids think they’ve cleaned their room “perfectly” until I walk in and change the standard of perfection. As a perfectionist I am more than happy to be reminded that Christ is my perfection and that I can let up on myself and others.

101. Glenna Richards on November 8th, 2007 5:47 pm

     Warning: some have advised removing your gutters. Whether or not you can safely remove the gutters depends on the width of your overhang, and the land around your house. The reason for gutters is to direct rain away from the foundation, so it will not be damaged by excess water. Some people have installed them from “habit”, but it is more likely they were initially installed because they were needed. That’s why it would be better to clean them for now, and later replace or cover them, unless you can be certain they were never needed in the first place.

     It’s easy to use a cleaning obsession as an excuse to put off more important things. There is no such thing as a perfectly clean gutter, since more leaves and needles will fall and one end will be dirty by the time you finish the other.

     During Jesus’ preaching, he never demanded perfect guest quarters, perfect clothing, perfect sandals, or a perfectly clean boat. When the woman washed his feet with her hair and her tears, he didn’t admonish her for having dirty hair, or point out that she didn’t get his feet “perfectly” clean. Washing the feet of a guest was intended to make him feel comfortable and welcome, and she did it well enough for that. No one claimed she got his feet spotlessly clean, tears are sticky.

     Lk 7:44-50 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

     Jesus wants YOU to be perfect, full of love and faith, not your gutters.

102. J DePalmo on November 8th, 2007 11:26 pm

     Perfect means without defect, flawless; entire; complete; pure. That is what Christ has done for us. Christ has made us Righteous thru what Christ has done for us. It is not what we can achieve but what He has done. So on the spiritual side we are as perfect as we possibly can be. In the natural side our job is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit every day in our lives. Everything should be done decently and in order and done as unto the Lord as scripture says. We should always take pride in what we choose to do and do it to the best of our ability. The tasks that we choose to do need to be what we are led to do by the Holy Spirit or the Word of God every moment of every day. As we follow His leading and direction doing it the best we can do it the we are doing what God instructs us to do. Following Him will also keep us doing what we need to do and not everything out there.

     There have been many natural things that have been brought up in the responces that can for sure help with time management or perhaps delegation of things so we can get the things done we need to get done. When God leads us with a project and help is needed to accomplish it then we need to get the help we need to make it happen. We will always grow and learn how to do things better. So we may not do them perfect right now but if they are done to the best of our ability then we have done our part. When we also know a project is going to take a certain amount of time then we need to make sure we have the time to do it before we start it. (If the gutters will take 5 hours to complete, then we need to have 5 hours to do the project. If not then we need to do it in two 2 1/2 hour segments or save it for another day. If the snow is comming tomorrow then maybe we should not have waited so long to clean the gutters.)

     So I would say: Follow the leading of the Spirit. Do it to the best of your ability. Get all the help you need to accomplish it. And use as much delegation and time management that you can in order to get things done as quick as possible and best as possible. Finaly don’t procrastinate; fulfil the duties we need to do as we need to do them before it is too late.

103. Kyle on November 9th, 2007 12:17 am

     I think you have perfectly put together a question that seems to hit at the hearts of many, Doctor.

     I still believe what I said in my earlier comment but I have something to add on to this whole perpetual question of perfection.

     We each view perfection differently at times and to say that God views one persons work perfect and another’s not would be very unlikely. For example, every person on earth is different looking and acting in one way or another. We all have our views of someone being pretty or perfect and someone being ugly or not so perfect but yet God views his creations as perfect. Imperfection is just another view of perfection. If we go by the definition term of perfection then we have a total different story. But nowhere does it say in the Bible man was made perfect but only that God look down and saw that his work was good. GOOD! Not perfect? WHAT! It makes sense to me because God is not bound to any one thing but his own nature, which is the nature of God, which is boundless.

     So, what I think really matters is that we do our best for him and not worry if it is always perfect. I mean we strive to do our best but each person is limited. Not everyone can be an artist or a great speaker but we are each placed with our talents but even then we can face boundaries with the talents we are given. This is just the way of things. Only God is perfection and only he is boundless.

104. amy on November 12th, 2007 1:38 pm

     I agree with you regarding this struggle whole-heartedly. In the past, I have been labeled a perfectionist, something I was once proud of! Now I don’t think anyone would accuse me of such. I guess this isn’t totally a bad thing, but herein lies my predicament…
     I was brought up in a VERY clean home, where things are done well, kept clean, and put in their place. My husband was not. (I will leave it at that.) Add three children to that mix combined with a very busy work schedule and wa-lah! The perfectionist becomes the slob! And it drives me crazy!!!
     seriously, I have had to learn to lower my standards in order to have some harmony within my home, but where should the line be drawn? I wish my house were much neater, but I do not have the time to do it myself. It is not a priority for the rest of my family. The kids have chores, and I try to instruct them, but they are still not up to par. Do I give up? Do I insist up “perfection” and thus bring misery to the rest of my family? Where is the balance between good stewardship and obsessing?

105. Shantrel VanDyke on November 12th, 2007 11:12 pm

     I think the inability to ever clean up the gutters perfectly is a PERFECT correlation to our inability to ever clean up ourselves perfectly. Christ in you- the hope of glory…Christ within a fallen human- the only hope (and fullfillment of that hope…not just hope in hope mind you!) of perfection!

106. Elizabeth on November 13th, 2007 1:32 am

     Here is a topic I can sink my teeth into! Just ask any family member, friend or past co-worker and they will either sing praises or rant their frustrations over my “perfectionistic” personality.

     How I have struggled with this! It seems a constant area of conflict for me -

     1)I’m not certain how I got this way, but I like things done right and right is “my way.” Okay, I’m joking, kind of…but then again not really…any perfectionist who is honest will admit to the “my way” mentality. This is the curse of it and that which we must work diligently to overcome. Truth be told it’s not about “our way,” it’s all about HIS WAY.

     2)As I have grown in my walk, “my” perfectionism has dwindled (in baby steps) and I have become more tolerant of things not always being perfect.

     3)As I have become less insistent on “my ways” I have become more insistent on “His ways.” My heart longs to be that which we are called to be in Colossians 3.

     I’ve found myself in conflict over this idea of perfectionism many times. I believe God calls us to a higher standard, one of excellence and of a level not of this world, yet we must be so careful not to get side tracked by perfectionism focused on those things which lack eternal value.

     Someone mentioned Mary and Martha. For many years I was a Martha; the list maker, event planner and task doer. My perfectionism fit neatly into this role and it was a source of pride as well. Through loss and trials God brought me to His feet as a Mary and that is where I have tended to gravitate, but alas this too can become a source of pride.

     Recently God revealed to me that I can not remain too long as one and neglect the other, for He needs both the Marys and the Marthas, not only of this world, but also of me. In this He is teaching me that it is the balance of the two which will help me to avoid the curse of perfectionism, so the blessing of being made perfect through Him can shine forth.

107. Tim on November 19th, 2007 11:13 am

     I think that God demands perfection even though we cannot attain it. Every loose end in my life will come under scrutiny at the day of judgement. I will have to produce every sales receipt, all insurance policy paperwork, all auto maintenance records even though I am a poor record keeper. I will learn how every single decision I made in life would have turned out better if I had done something differently, and will spend eternity in the shame of that knowledge. That is why I don’t really want to go to heaven.

108. Kathryn Patrick on November 19th, 2007 11:25 am

     Del, I had a friend that demanded perfection out of everyone including herself and she is very frustrated that she never finds it orr attains it.
     You see I worked for awhile and gave her my best and my best did not measure up to her expectations. Having been and office administrator in a high paid position in L.A. I knew that my best was beter then most. Still she insisted that she wanted perfection. Well, before I resigned, i told her that first of all as a Christian working on materials I folded them neatly and prayed over everyone of them. I also reminded her of the fruits of the spirit; you see even as an employer I remember the fruits of the spirit; joy love, peace kindness forgiveness and
     most importatnttly grace. God has shown us so much grace. To me in this body I will never be perfect, but I do my best to do my job and God extends me grace in all I do. i think that we should all remember that Grace is what God is about and stop trying to be perfect just follow his ways because they are higher than ours. By having occupation with Christ, meaning keep focused on him and as Paul says renew your mind with Bible doctrine, (his thinking) you will not be struggling with perfection. Do your best show good stewartship and grace and mercy will folllow you all the days of your life. People especially Christians, need to learn to walk the walk and the talk. Sure there are people out there who cannot do as well as others but we must think about the fact that we must as emplolyers and as Christians we are to apply the fruits of the spirit and treat others as we would like to be treated. Perfection will not come in this body ever, just strive to do as Christ has so beautifully demonstrated in his word and do not get in caught up in the worldly priciples of perfection and not being perfect in every way.
     God is the potter and we are the clay.
     God Bless You all.
     Kate Patrick

109. Nicole on November 28th, 2007 4:43 pm

     I have recently seen the truth project and it touched me and spoke to my heart in many ways. I believe it is the perfection you speak of that drives people away from god. The frustrating thing is that this perfection in gods eyes is unattainable so it feels like I am doomed to fail in his sight. Because of this I will never be worthy of his love.

110. John Koetsier on December 4th, 2007 3:18 pm

     Wonderful question and great discussion.

     At the risk of being off-topic … it’s a lot easier to clean out pine needles by using a blower.

     1) Stand on top of your roof, blow down.
     2)When you get to the edge by the gutter, blow the needles to one side.
     3) There is no third step.

     This is WAY easier … and it even approaches perfection. Which, if you think about it, IS actually relevant. The pursuit of perfection is valuable, as long as it does not become an obsession, but you need to be smart about it. Aligning the tools and settings of your life in such a way to encourage you to do the right thing in the right way as opposed to enduring things that predispose you to the wrong way is a lot more effective.

     

111. Mike on December 4th, 2007 3:21 pm

     This topic makes me curious about the similarities between Perfection and Holiness. Then I am also reminded that Scripture tells us that when we know what is right and do not do it, that too is sin. The catch is that he calls us to perfection and to holiness. If he calls us, he will also equip us. I often wonder,”Is holiness possible in this body? Surly it must be if Christ tells me so.”
     I strive to be like Christ and that in turn effects my work ethic (even cleaning gutters) and also my character (replacing little white lies with the truth) and even things like how I eat (choosing fruit over Oreo cookies). It seems every facet of life struggles against perfection. Thankfully we have grace when we fail, wisdom to see where we need work and peace to know when things are right.
     So I suppose the best we can do is to carry on doing good.

     Mike

112. Anonymous on December 4th, 2007 4:00 pm

     How perfect are we to be? That is like asking me to understand fully lesson 8 “Unio Mystica”. Could Jesus have really prayed for us to be one with the Father if it were not possible? NO!!!! It would have been a lie. It is possible, but to understand all of that in it’s perfection…..Wow

     He is calling us to be like Him. We cannot draw a line as to where this perfection stops, because when we stop we quit being transformed into His image. II Cor 3:18. The battle does not stop and we dare not stop fighting for that perfect image of God in ourselves, but the victory has already been won. I Cor 15:57-58…

     What a wonderful stuggle to have….”To be like Him”

113. Maria on December 4th, 2007 10:49 pm

     i was a perfectionist before i had children….now i do less than before but what i do, should be perfect in my eyes even if just one issue per day. I think perfectionism is also an individual matter, i often have discussions with my husband because I think it should be done one way and his way to see it perfect is completely different to mine. I also think that being perfectionist is in a way a gift of God if it is done with love and not with obsession. My balance is to definetly forget perfectionism during the week end, so i can spend more quality time with my family and we can all completely relax. My question related to yours is as follows: could we be perfectionists in our relationships? is it done following the commandments and showing the fruits of the Spirit?

     Lovely blessings

114. William Haney on December 4th, 2007 11:42 pm

     Well, all I can think of is that this is more material and you have Christ as a priority. Like a construction work on a road, a huge mess then it is beautiful, almost perfect when it opens. Perhaps to achieve God’s pefection, you may have to be imperfect as a project or a work in progress. Plus I feel God knows your committment and what you are trying to do. Leaving things a mess will lead to some consequence eventually. For a short term should not hurt. Maybe you should have had a son or older grandchild help you take care of it??

     I wonder if you strive for God’s perfection but know only Christ had it. Perhaps God holds out a “spiritual carrot” in front of us, knowing we will never get to it but the closer we get to it the better we will be with God. If I am off base my deepest apoligies.

     Off the subject, if I had a 2007 Man Of The Year, it would be you as The Truth Project was the key I needed to open up my belief in God to new levels. I have much to work on but this came at a time I needed and was ready to open my eyes. God love you.

115. Tonya Mandich on December 7th, 2007 1:51 pm

     Hi Del,
     So good to hear from you. Thank you for the new features on your correspondence. You have been missed, but know you are doing all you can and greatly value our cause.

     As the Bible teaches, and “The Truth Project” has taught with respect to this Truth,I know God is a “God of order” and agree whole-heartedly with this Biblical attribute of our Creator. I also agree that He is the one we are to “conform to” Rom. 12:2. However, “perfection”, as you know, is impossible for the redeemed and unattainable in all things all the time. Only God can be perfect; and He must be to set the standard.
     John McArthur puts it this way: “Christ sets an unattainable standard. This sums up what the law itself demanded (Jas 2:10) Though this standard is impossible to meet, God could not lower it without compromising His own perfection. He who is perfect could not set imperfect standard of righteousness. The marvelous truth of the gospel is that Christ has met this standard on our behalf”.
     This is why when I stand before God at the bema seat, I will be standing there in the blood of Christ alone. This is the only “perfection” I will ever be truly know while still having flesh.
     Do I think this dismisses us from the maturity and conforming process of sanctification “putting on the new man”? NO! As Paul tells us so well. Eph. 4:24
     However, (speaking one perfectionist to another) there comes a time when we must have a healthy balance in Christian maturity, if you will. For instance, when I last visited a lady who I love and don’t get to see too often, she was outside with me and the family visiting when me and the rest of her loved ones noticed that she kept on sweeping off a small 4×6 rug as little tree debris fell down upon it, almost the whole time…to the point of compulsion. You might say she was “taken captive” by that rug. Instead of visiting with us for those precious few hours, she was distracted beyond reason by the debris. We concluded that we needed to go out to the beach and get her away from that rug!
     I love Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Father is perfect”.
     I am so glad that the work on the cross was complete: When my Father sees me…He sees His Son and His perfection all over me…
     Do I make every effort to do my best? Yes, in knowledge, understanding, and the wisdom given to me in the power of the Holy Spirit, apiring to be mature in all things.
     John 15:5

     5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
     NASU

     Merry Christmas,
     Tonya

116. Michoude Roussel on December 12th, 2007 6:15 am

     I believe that we are in process. I think perfectionism is a lie from the devil; because no one is perfect. God is a god of order; but when something frustrates you to the point that you lose your peace; I don’t think God wanted it done “we probably got caught up in the moment”.
     And have i been their before? many times.
     I thank God that he loved me when i was beating my head against the wall trying to please myself, or anyone else I could think of.
     (LOL)
     Amen.
     Thank you for starting this truth project; what an awesome way to hear from other believers who go through the same struggles we all face everyday. Thank you Jesus.

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