From Whence Cometh My Help - Part Eight (Repost)
We're winding down. Only two more questions to go. So how are you doing so far? Have your confirmed whether or not you suffer from the Wonder Woman/Superman Complex?
Wonder Woman/Superman Complex Test:
Question #8: Do you make tasks more difficult than is necessary?
Oh dear! All the perfectionists just cringed. Yes, this is a tricky one, for it's all about balance. The Bible tells us that we should do all things to the glory of God, and there's no doubt that this command implies that we should do our absolute best. God is not satisfied with our half-hearted efforts and our thought patterns of "Well, it's good enough." We should always strive to do our best, no matter the task.
On the other hand, in our attempts to do our best, we can sometimes tip the scale to the other extreme. Instead of just printing out the Sunday School handouts, we insist on finding the perfect font and printing the pages on colored paper with appropriate designs. Instead of singing the song to the best of our ability, we insist on mimicking the "star" who has all the right flair and inflection. Instead of creating a home atmosphere of comfort and relaxation, we buzz about in a flurry of activity to ensure every pillow is fluffed and the last dust bunnies are rounded up. (Obviously, I don't struggle much with this one. My house is a dust bunny asylum.)
Do you know what I'm talking about? Perfectionists do. We excel at turning molehills into mountains and simple tasks into large, time-consuming projects. We go far beyond our best, never satisfied with what we've accomplished. And sadly, in our attempt to do things for the glory of God, we lose sight of Him entirely. Instead, we become focused on doing things to the best (and beyond) for our own satisfaction and peace of mind. We become obsessed with doing more, being better and reaching new heights.
As you can imagine, when we reach that level, we're no longer acting in God's strength, but our own. When we had the right heart and motives, God was with us, helping us until the point where we shoved Him away so that we could show Him what we were really capable of. Yes, God was still there, but as far as we were concerned, He wasn't. We were paying Him no heed, and we certainly weren't allowing Him to work through us. No, pride had stepped in once again and consumed us.
I'll be the first to admit that it's a precarious balance to find and hold, and I'm still struggling with it. I want to always put forth my best effort and never be satisfied with "good enough," but on the other hand, when God says, "That's enough," I want to be so in tune with Him that I both hear and obey. One thing is for certain, it would save me a lot of wasted time, energy and strength. How about you?
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. - Hebrews 13:20-21