I was watching a video on the Internet recently where a group of guys were restoring and old car for a celebrity race car driver. When they had finished painting it, they were very closely inspecting the paint to find any flaws. One of the guys said, “Normally we wouldn’t inspect our work this closely, but this car is for __________, and he demands perfection, so whatever he wants, he gets!”
Likewise, I’ve heard stories about celebrity singers and actors who demand all sort of things when they visit a location for a show or something, and even though some of their demands are outrageous, they get met – simply because people think they are important and will do whatever it takes to please them.
In reality, it doesn’t matter a hill of beans what someone like that demands. They are no more important in the eyes of God than you or me! I think it is ridiculous that people would even go to the great lengths and trouble they go to simply to please one of these so called “celebrities”! Yet it happens everyday almost.
Yet, there is someone who demands perfection. Peter reminds us of that in 1 Peter 1:16, “it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'” And Jesus Himself said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
Of course, we should always do our best in whatever we do, but, why is it that we seem to care more about pleasing men than we do about pleasing God? We should certainly be more eager to be as perfect as we possibly can be, with the help of the Holy Spirit, than we are about pleasing our fellow man! And YES – God DOES DEMAND perfection! However, most people don’t seem to care about that. But the closer we follow God and seek to obey Him, the better our lives will be!
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)