Only God is Perfect
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”Proverbs 16:3
I had often heard the scripture about Martha and Mary, but I never fully understood what the Lord meant when he said, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better…” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV).
I was so much like Martha, always rushing around, trying to make everything as perfect as possible. I found it hard to comprehend why it was better for Mary to sit at Christ’s feet, listening instead of working. I had to be doing something to feel fulfilled. So I spent most of my life striving to be the perfect wife, mother, and homemaker, instead of enjoying life to the fullest.
I believed in God, but I made my own plans and set my own goals. I prayed, but most often when things were not going well. I was never taught to read the Bible.
At fifty, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. When I started putting Him first, my life changed dramatically. He opened my eyes and showed me that by being like Martha, I had made my life a lot harder than it had to be.
Now I spend time daily with the Lord studying the Bible and praying to discover His will for my life. From the new insights I have gained, I would like to share these positive pointers with you, hoping that they may help you avoid some of the emptiness and unfulfillment I experienced:
Enjoy each day. Don’t dwell on the past, especially the bad things that have happened. We all make mistakes, but rather than rehashing them, learn from them and try again. I wasted too many years “wishing” things had been different.
Don’t live for tomorrow. You may only have today. Make plans, but don’t miss today “dreaming.” Don’t waste time concentrating on the future and miss the present.
Don’t set impossible goals. I did, and it was frustrating. You’ll never be perfect–only God is perfect. Looking at ourselves that way helps us realize we fall short, but we’re not inadequate.
Don’t worry about what other people think. Be yourself. I measured my worth by my performance. I felt condemned if my house and my boys were not perfect. It never occurred to me that my self worth comes from the Lord, not from my accomplishments. If I’m trying my best, that is perfection in God’s eyes.
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Follow-up–
It’s been thirty years since I surrendered my life to the Lord. This has been a wonderful time of growth for me, both spiritually and emotionally. Like each of us, I still have ups and downs in my life, but with Jesus as my Counselor and Guide, I am more relaxed and no longer feel my former compulsion for perfection. I continually remind myself that only God is perfect.
(c) Frances Gregory Pasch
