I am not a perfectionist. But I do like to see a job well
done. Recently, in an email exchange with a friend I was reminded, “Don’t let
the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Of course this led me to wonder if I was
actually trying to be a perfectionist, or if I was just trying to be a good
steward of my resources. I can certainly understand, by the intensity of my
email, that I was pushing to get it right. The truth is, my goal wasn’t
perfection. What I wanted was for my decisions to be thoughtful and faithful. I
wanted to make good decisions.
I love the proverb: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of
the good.” Striving for perfection can actually hijack a project. Trying to get
every detail just right can prove to be impossible, and a great project can fall
apart before it ever gets started. But more importantly “good” is actually a
good goal, theologically speaking. In the beginning when God created the
heavens and the earth, each day of creation concluded with “And God saw that it
was good.” Not perfect. Good. And better than good in God’s eyes is “very
good.”
So often we strive for great or wonderful or perfect instead
of good. There’s this sense that “good” isn’t good enough. But there’s
something about goodness – somehow it speaks of beauty and simplicity and
harmony and integrity. Goodness isn’t about competition or hierarchies. Goodness
isn’t about perfection. Goodness is somehow tied to faithfulness. And goodness,
not greatness or perfection, is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22,
NIV). Clearly, “good” is pleasing to God.
Interestingly, on the day before this email exchange I heard
Greg Jones speak at Duke Divinity School on Resurrecting
Excellence. As he spoke of
leading the church in the 21st century, he made the comment, “Beware
of mediocrity masquerading as faithfulness.” Another proverb. I think we fall into this trap too often – often
unawares. Consider those times
when we claim we are being good stewards of our resources and thus we are being
faithful, when in fact we are afraid of taking a risk or we are afraid of
failing. We claim that what we are doing is good, when the truth is that we
don’t want to step on toes, offend anyone, or move out of our own comfort
zones. At those times we settle – yes, settle! – for the status quo rather than
pushing for that which is truly good. We settle for mediocrity and call it
faithfulness. When in fact it is neither faithful nor good.
Perfection is often impossible. Mediocrity is often too easy. Yet just like
the three bears and their porridge, there’s that third option that is just
right: goodness. Don’t let the
perfect be the enemy of the good. Beware of mediocrity masquerading as
faithfulness. And from the book of Proverbs: “Those who plan good find loyalty
and faithfulness” (14:22b). So why don't we strive to do good?
