Skip to main content

True Perfection

 

We are human and prone to mistakes, misunderstandings, and other influences towards our fallen nature that keep us from being absolutely perfect. There are those times where we may find exceptional achievement, but most times we fall short in some way.
 
Perfection, however, is not an illusion. It is something that we can strive for in our spiritual lives. Jesus challenges a rich man with such a goal. Matthew 19:21, “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”
 
Why would Jesus give this man what appears to be a nearly impossible task? It would seem impossible if we didn’t understand the word “perfect.” The word is not implying that we should be continually living without fault. This form of perfection relates to love.
 
Jesus is literally addressing the unconditional love of agape. In other words, Jesus is saying that we must strive to love as God does which includes expressing such love through radical forgiveness and unselfish giving. He is asking for undivided loyalty and full-hearted obedience. Radical discipleship.
 
What does that form of perfection look like? Jesus gave us the answer earlier in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.’”
 
We are to strive for perfection in our love of neighbor. What is unique in that is we do not get to determine who those neighbors get to be. It applies to all people. We are not allowed to pick and choose who we’ll love. Again, we love as God loves.
 
The word Matthew uses for “perfect” is the Greek word “teleios” which means “mature” or “full grown.” We must grow in our faith. We must become mature believers. In our Methodist tradition, we call this “going on towards perfection” or “sanctification” where we surrender to God in faith and die to self so that we can be conformed to the image of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit within us.
 
Jesus was challenging the rich man not because he was rich. Jesus challenged him with having a divided mind. He had a cerebral faith, but not a heart-faith. He knew all about it, but didn’t live it. Yes, he obeyed the laws, but not out of a loving heart. Jesus sets the standard of undivided loyalty and full-hearted obedience. Radical discipleship.
 
When pursuing a life of perfection, we must learn to reconcile each day with questions such as “what was more important to me than God, today?” “Why was I willing to compromise obedience for convenience?” “Who didn’t I love unconditionally?” These aren’t all the questions, but I think you get the point.
 
We cannot follow Jesus from a distance or when we have time or feel it is to our benefit. His commands are not suggestions. Jesus is not asking us to “pencil him in” our schedule. He is asking us to be our full schedule and to center our life on him.   
 
Work on being perfect. Love unconditionally. Live out your faith. Grow and deepen your faith. Follow Jesus. Be like Jesus. Especially to those who are your enemies or persecuting you…to the ones who hate you and are despitefully using you. Love is true perfection.

Popular posts from this blog

Learn from Lydia

  There are a lot of interesting mentions of women in the Bible. Whether it is the Old Testament or New Testament, there are many strong, yet oddly missed, lessons from women that we can familiarize ourselves with to strengthen our faith.   One such woman is named Lydia. She provides a very powerful lesson for us. We find one particular mention of her in the book of Acts. Acts 16:14 , says that Lydia “reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.”   Lydia is actually a significant person in the New Testament. She is described as “a dealer in purple goods” (Acts 16:14). Pointing that out is quite a clue. Dealing in “purple goods” was considered a luxury in the ancient world.   It is probably safe to say that she was both a woman of great financial means and able to deal successfully with the influential people of her time. She was also noted as having a great gift of persuasion.   I think she might have been the only perso...
Read more

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in  John 19:28  and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now  completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”   Did you know that the word  tetelestai  was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...
Read more

Asking "What" Instead of "Why"

Life is not easy and it is not void of struggle, challenges, pain, sorrow, loss, grief, and suffering. I am sure I can come up with more words than that, but this article would soon blossom to two to three pages in length. I am sure we are familiar with the trials and frustrations of Job in the Old Testament. Some of us might even be familiar with the words of Habakuk in 1:2 , “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” When things don’t go well or something tragic or unfortunate befalls us, we are faced with the struggles of crying out to God, “why me?” “Why, God, did you let this happen?” Many times, we too, grow frustrated and angry at God, for how He chooses to work within our situations and circumstances. We sure do end up asking God a lot of “why” questions. I believe “why” could be the wrong word to be using. Asking “why” seems to imply a lack of faith, ungratefulness, and, somehow, that we think God owes us an explanation, an answer or reaso...
Read more