When you’re a perfectionist, your need to always do things perfectly applies to everything you do. Whether it’s job, at home, or even in ministry. There’s nothing wrong with striving for excellence in your work product and offering God our very best. The problem with trying to always be perfect is that sometimes we can become so critical of our offering that we forget the most important thing that God requires: humility.
One of the most vulnerable times for me is immediately after minister or lead worship. My mind always seems to race with questions of “did I hit the right note; did I play that chord correctly;” and on and on and on. Thoughts of not being “worthy,” enough to be used by God often creep in, leaving me feeling depressed and inadequate. This is not what God desires. Our desire to be excellent should never replace the importance of humility. In other words, when we present our gifts to God with a humble and sincere heart, He accepts it more than if we were to bring Him a “perfect” gift with no sincerity attached to it.
“God cared more about the position of the giver’s heart than He did about the sacrifice being offered”
Let’s consider Cain and Abel. We all know the familiar story of how Cain and Abel presented their offerings to God – Abel’s was acceptable, but Cain’s was not. One might assume that Cain’s gift was a more acceptable offering because he brought fruit unto the Lord as his sacrifice. Able, on the other hand, offered the fat of his first born flock. Fruit is much more pleasing and desirable than the fat of an animal, right? However, it was Abel’s faith that was attached to his offering that made it more acceptable. Abel offered His gift not because of obligation or duty, but because of his sincere desire to please God. Cain’s offering was out of duty and obligation. God cared more about the position of the giver’s heart than He did about the sacrifice being offered.
When our only focus in ministry is perfection to the point that we pay less attention to the position of our heart, we have lost sight of what it means to offer our gifts as worship unto God. Imagine if someone gave you a gift that you absolutely adored, but immediately afterwards they began pointing out all the imperfections with that gift. This gift that you initially treasured and was so pleased to receive now seems imperfect. That’s how it is when our need for perfection causes us to be overly critical of our sacrifice.
Yes, the drummer may have started on the wrong beat during worship, but was the congregation blessed by the corporate unity among the worship team? Sure the sermon you preached may not have had all the scriptures you wanted to use or you didn’t have the best title, but did sinners answer the call for salvation? No you may not have hit the note perfectly, but did God move on the hearts of the people?
“Don’t let the sense of perfectionism and duty over shadow the one thing God cares about most in worship: humility”
God is pleased when we offer him our gifts in humility and sincerity. Don’t let the sense of perfectionism and duty over shadow the one thing God cares about most in worship: humility. Remember, God is most concerned with our hearts. It is man who looks at the outward appearance, always ready to criticize and judge. God, however, is pleased most when we humbly bring our gifts before Him, not because we have to, but because it’s the least we can offer to the one who gave everything for us.