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7 Bible Verses For Perfectionists To Study

7 Bible Verses For Perfectionists To Study

Last updated on: October 23, 2015 at 3:30 pm by Karla Hawkins

7 Bible Verses For Perfectionists To Study 2015-10-23T15:30:16-05:00 Karla Hawkins

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Striving for perfection has been the downfall of many of us over the years, as it is impossible to do everything right all of the time. Typically, trying to be perfect just leads to frustration and disappointment in oneself and perhaps even a judgmental attitude towards others who do not meet your expectations either. God’s word tells us that we have all sinned, so we all need God. When we realize our weaknesses and call out to the Lord for help, then we can become all that He wants us to be. Keeping this in mind, here are 7 Bible verses for perfectionists to study.

Romans 3:10 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

No matter how hard we try, we can never be perfect. We may reach a level of being and doing good, but God’s word reminds us in this verse that no one is righteous. It is important for a perfectionist to study this and accept the truth. In many ways, it can be a relief to understand that the Lord knows our frailties and does not expect perfection from his children.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Perfectionism is an attempt to present a façade of being flawless, and unfortunately it is not reality. There is nothing wrong in doing things with excellence and precision, but we must realize the truth of God’s word when it says that “all have sinned.” This includes us, and we must acknowledge our weaknesses and flaws in order to confess our sins and be saved.

I Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

The apostle Paul, writing here in this book, knew that the best way to overcome our sinful nature is to follow and imitate Christ. That is our only hope for salvation and a purpose-filled life. A perfectionist might struggle with this, though, if they have placed themselves on a pedestal rather than the Lord. We need to be sure to put Christ on the throne of our hearts, as only then will we be able to follow his leading more readily.

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

As long as we are doing the best we can in our Christian walk, then God will be glorified. This is especially true when all that we do is for his honor and in his name. We corrupt things when we try to do it for our own exaltation. That is what perfectionism does. It exalts us above our true place. So this verse reminds us to give thanks and glory to God—the one who actually deserves the praise for the blessings in our lives.

I Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Following after Jesus is the closest thing that we can do to be righteous and perfect. Understanding this fact will enable us to pray and ask the Lord to forgive us for our feeble attempts to be perfect. We need to recognize that Jesus is the only perfect one. Our love for him compels us to try to mirror him as best we can, but as mature Christians we know and fully realize our imperfections.

I Corinthians 1:31 “so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”

Achievements, degrees, awards and recognition in academics or in business tend to boost our egos and perhaps even lead us to boasting and believing in our own abilities. This can be an especially challenging downfall for anyone struggling with perfectionism, so this verse reminds us that no matter what our only accomplishments or “bragging rights” are in the Lord. He is the one who has forgiven our sins and given us hope for eternal life—it is nothing that we have done ourselves. Realizing this can help us avoid being judgmental of others as well.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

A final verse for a perfectionist to study in my opinion is this one in the book of Matthew. Instead of striving for flawlessness and perfection in our own lives, we should seek God’s Kingdom and his righteousness first. This will help establish the right priorities in our lives, and it will keep our focus centered on the Lord. Getting distracted with our own desires and ambitions will only get us in trouble.

Conclusion

The Lord has an answer for everything that we struggle with—including perfectionism. God’s word provides us with hope and encouragement to overcome any and all of our challenges. Acknowledging that we are sinners and forever dependent on God will enable us to avoid the pitfall of feeling like we have to be perfect to measure up to God and to the expectations of others around us. It will also help us avoid judging others too harshly.

Written by Karla Hawkins

I am very grateful to be a Christian author, editor and translator. Some of my favorite pastimes include traveling, and connecting with family and friends via social media. When I am not working, I love spending time with my family and especially with both of my precious grandsons.

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