Excellence, Not Perfection
Ah, the word perfect. Like a snare, it lures us in with images of being up gazed upon with admiration. But as Christ Followers, is THAT what we are called to? Did Jesus say "well done, good and perfect servant"?
Is that who we are called to BE in our lives and work?
Let's look at the definitions and then we'll see what scripture has to say...
Perfection: a compulsive drive to do it perfectly, without mistakes or exception (I say impossible, unattractive)
Excellence: having high standards of being and performance for yourself and others (I say possible, very attractive)
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV)
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
According to Strong's Concordance, the word perfect in this verse was derived from the Greek term teleios.
Teleios is defined this way:
(a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) especially of the completeness of Christian character
Therefore, we are called to be COMPLETE IN CHRIST, vs. PERFECT, which as we know as Christ followers, we cannot be on this earth, and there is only ONE who WAS and IS perfect.
I invite you to stop and ponder.
Are you unreasonably setting "perfection" as the standard:
in your organization?
for yourself as a professional? As a leader?
for your team members?
in your home and family?
in your relationships?
I'm inviting you right now to REMOVE the words PERFECT and PERFECTION from your vocabulary and mindset and to REPLACE it with and commit to a spirit of EXCELLENCE, as unto the LORD.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters
Now how freeing is THAT?
For His Glory,
Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador
About the Guest Blogger, Caroline Mendez, National Brand Ambassador, iWork4Him
Caroline’s Mission: To raise the visibility of Christian Women in Leadership. She is passionate about empowering each woman she meets to be free from that which keeps them oppressed.