Some people think humility demands that we not find satisfaction in having done a good job. Nothing could be further from the truth. It's actually a Godlike quality. When He had created the heavens and the earth, He looked at it and affirmed that is was very good. What's your normal response when you complete a task? Do you look at it and find pleasure in what you've done? Or do you immediately notice all the ways, sometimes small, almost indistinguishable ways, that you could have done a better job? Your answer may say something about a perspective related to your faith.
After working on creation for six days, God rested on the seventh. He didn’t rest because He was tired. He rested because he was satisfied. The work was finished. His rest was one of fulfillment. It was the abiding peace of a job well done. God took pleasure in what He had done. That's a quality He enjoys seeing in you.
There are different reasons people struggle with finding fulfillment in a job well done. Perfectionists seldom find a sense of satisfaction in what they do. They nitpick themselves and their activities to pieces. The reason is often related to an underlying sense of inadequacy that says, “I must do everything perfect to be okay.” It’s ironic that some people say, “I’m a perfectionist,” almost as if they’re bragging about it. Praying about it would make more sense. Perfectionism is not a virtue. It’s often an indication that the person doesn’t feel secure about his personal value unless what he does is beyond criticism. The problem is that the perfectionist is seldom able to see the well-done-value of what he does because of insecurity. It is an expression of an independent attitude that creates a sense of constant self-condemnation to those enslaved by it. If you see tendencies of a perfectionist’s attitude within yourself, pray about it. Your Father wants to free you from constant self-judgment that refuses to applaud a job well done.
Other people can’t recognize a job well done because of a false sense of humility. Tell them they did well and they’ll dismiss your remark. They’ll point out how they could have, should have, would have done better if things were different. False humility is, ironically, a form of pride. It is prideful because it causes a person to always focus on herself and never be able to celebrate a finished task with a sense of accomplishment.
Do you find yourself shirking off compliments for things you’ve done? If so, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to respond in grace both inwardly and outwardly. The proper inward response to a compliment is satisfaction and gratitude. The outward response has to be no more complex than a simple, “thank you,” without further explanation or qualification.
God saw what He had done and said, “it is good.” Some might argue, “But I’m not God!” That’s true, but it is God who is always at work in you to “will and to do His good pleasure.” (See Philippians 2:13) The indwelling Christ is living and working through you – whether you’re teaching a Bible study, working at your job, planting a flower garden, or cleaning out your garage. In whatever you do, there’s really no such thing as secular activity when Christ lives through you. He makes everything you do sacred because it’s Him doing it in and through you.
To recognize and appreciate that you’ve done a good job is actually to affirm that Christ is the source of your life and that He expresses Himself in the details of your lifestyle. Learn to celebrate a finished task and appreciate the value of what you’ve done. When you’ve done something good, see it as good!
Jesus even indicated in the Parable of the Talents that when He returns and sees the faithful stewardship you’ve shown with those things He has entrusted to you, He might say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (See Matthew 25) When He speaks those words to you, will you be able to accept them? If you find it hard to acknowledge a job well done now, maybe it would be a good idea to begin to learn to celebrate a job well done.
The proper response to a job well done will do two things: It will honor the One who has given you the ability you possess and it will help you cultivate a more positive attitude about yourself and what you do. Your Father is proud of you, so don’t insult Him by putting yourself or what you’ve done down. Rest in the fulfillment of a job well done and renew your mind. This single act can deepen your sense of fulfillment in life.
Thanks for standing together with us at Grace Walk as we continue to try to do a good job sharing the Father's love around the world.
I appreciate you,
Steve McVey
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