Less Than Perfect

When we are left to our own devices and our thoughts we think pretty highly of ourselves. We try to sound humble by saying things like “Sure I’m not perfect” or “I have made some mistakes in my past” Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Matthew 7:5. Does that attitude of thinking of ourselves continue on even after we become saved? We tend to think that we are much better than how we used to be, but do we still look at ourselves through rose-colored glasses? It’s so easy to fall into that trap of pride, isn’t it? Thankfully those of us who are married can count on our spouses to let us know when we are less than perfect. Our spouse should be the first one to point out that we could have handled a situation better or that maybe the fruit from our tree has gotten a little sour. This can be an extremely difficult pill to swallow. How dare he point out that I am anything less than perfect, right? But listen, we all have moments of impatience, anger, and pride. Because let’s face it, even though we are saved by Jesus’s blood, we are still sinful creatures. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:45. We will not reach the perfection we so long for until we are with Jesus in heaven. While we are on this earth, we will still slip and fall into sin. Only Jesus was able to live a sinless life.

Our whole goal in life should be to live more like Jesus. So how do we do that? First, you get to know someone best the more time you spend with them. So spend time with Jesus every day in your bible. Another way is to have God help you produce a better crop. That happens with sunshine, rain, and sometimes even a little manure. Growing fruitful trees is not always a walk in the park, sometimes the days are too long and too hot, sometimes it doesn’t rain for weeks and then when it does, it floods everything. And most of the time you get the best fruit when you have poop all over you. Sounds wonderful right? Well God wants us to endure these trials so that we can become strong trees. The stronger we get the more we can endure. Then when we are faced with tornadoes or hurricanes, our deep roots in God will keep us safe and secure. So when your spouse points out to you that some of your fruit is going sour, try not to take offense to it, instead look at that as one more way they are helping you be more like Jesus. You are just one step closer.