"could've done better"

[thelord's_pearl]

there can be an instance where I could've done better to another but I didn't want to, is that wrong? does God want you to do the utmost best you could've done in every circumstance otherwise it's sin? thanks so much for the replies. I still need help

 

[Mayflower]

I can't reply right now much but just want to pray for you.

I just ask Lord God that you give the lord's_pearl peace of mind. Please comfort her with Your love, that if she is a born again Christian trusting in Jesus Christ death on the cross, burial, and resurrection for forgiveness of her sins, then she is saved. Thank You Lord God that we do not have to worry about sin, because You took care of it on the cross. Please give us wisdom in all circumstances in how to treat one another and how to love one another in the best ways. Thank You that even though we fall short, Your Holy Spirit goes the rest of the way to reach others for You. Help us step out of me focus into kingdom focus and to bind any spirit of anxiety and worry, since You have given us a spirit of power, love, and discipline. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

 

[Randy Kluth]

there can be an instance where I could've done better to another but I didn't want to, is that wrong? does God want you to do the utmost best you could've done in every circumstance otherwise it's sin? thanks so much for the replies. I still need help

It's one thing to "do your best," and another thing to "try to be perfect." You might argue that if you don't try to be perfect, you're deliberately not doing your best. Well, accept the fact that you're imperfect.

Thus, "doing your best" is a matter of trying to be and do good while accepting a certain amount of things in your life that will *not* be pleasing to the Lord. Let's say I want to be loving to someone. Accept that you can do the loving thing even while you won't do it perfectly. It is enough to do the loving thing. Any effort to do the loving thing *perfectly* is doomed to failure, and will lead to self-condemnation.

 

[justbyfaith]

Well, accept the fact that you're imperfect.

No; for it is written,

Heb 10:14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

there can be an instance where I could've done better to another but I didn't want to, is that wrong? does God want you to do the utmost best you could've done in every circumstance otherwise it's sin? thanks so much for the replies. I still need help

I think...do the best you can but realize it’s not really true love because something of yourself mars it and ask God for what you see you lack and trust Him to perfect you because you sure can’t perfect you.

 

[amadeus]

there can be an instance where I could've done better to another but I didn't want to, is that wrong? does God want you to do the utmost best you could've done in every circumstance otherwise it's sin? thanks so much for the replies. I still need help

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Phil 2:3

Impossible, I know so then see here what Jesus said

"And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:26-27

And then see this:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Col 1:27

 

[Randy Kluth]

No; for it is written,

Heb 10:14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

I learned a long time ago to follow the proverb:

Eccles 7.16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?

I was taught, repeatedly, not to limit what I could do for God, how righteous I could be, if I "only believed." Well, I wanted to fast until Christ returned. I wanted to remain celibate throughout my life. I wanted to witness to every person I came upon as I walked through town. At what point would I get it that life is not all about work, and not about trying to act in perfection?

It was a hard lesson to learn, but ultimately, I recognized that God never asked perfection from us. The word "perfect" is easily misconstrued in our English translations. It refers to something like completing a covenant. To fulfill a covenant is not to act perfectly, but only to accomplish what is necessary to do my side of the agreement.

This is an example of what I believe "perfect" refers to. It is doing what we think pleases God in the moment. To think He expects us to be as perfect as Jesus Christ is an exercise in futility. He came to save us in our lost condition. When we get saved, we still live in the sinful flesh. We don't annihilate our Sin Nature--we *overcome* it! :)

 

[justbyfaith]

To think He expects us to be as perfect as Jesus Christ is an exercise in futility.

1Jo 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1Jo 3:3, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1Jo 2:6, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

I can also bring up other verses. Such as,

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (kjv), Hebrews 10:14 (kjv), 1 John 3:9;

Jude 1:24, 2 Peter 1:10, 1 John 2:10;

1 John 3:6, 1 John 2:17;

Romans 6:6 (kjv), Colossians 2:11 (kjv), (NLT);

Philippians 3:15.

 

[Randy Kluth]

1Jo 3:7, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1Jo 3:3, And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1Jo 2:6, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

I can also bring up other verses. Such as,

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (kjv), Hebrews 10:14 (kjv), 1 John 3:9;

Jude 1:24, 2 Peter 1:10, 1 John 2:10;

1 John 3:6, 1 John 2:17;

Romans 6:6 (kjv), Colossians 2:11 (kjv), (NLT);

Philippians 3:15.

You can be *like* Jesus. But good luck being as *perfect* as Jesus! ;)

 

[CadyandZoe]

there can be an instance where I could've done better to another but I didn't want to, is that wrong? does God want you to do the utmost best you could've done in every circumstance otherwise it's sin? thanks so much for the replies. I still need help

Doesn't it depend on why you didn't want to do better?

 

[Randy Kluth]

I believe we are to be like Jesus by allowing ourselves to be inspired and led by his Spirit. If we are doing that, perfecting the flesh is the last thing on our mind. We cannot return to our human state before the Fall. Not going to happen. That's not what the Scriptures mean by "perfection." Rather, it has to do with becoming complete Christians, by learning to regularly overcome our sins by tuning into God's Spirit and to thus become "like Jesus." So we agree on the need to be like Jesus, but not on any notion that we can perfect the flesh, or can completely eradicate all carnal displays in our lives.

The best thing to do is to simply focus on Jesus today, rather than try to regurgitate the past, and fix things we've done wrong. If we just keep looking to Jesus, we will know that He loves us *the way we are,* and will continue to help us *even though we are still imiperfect.* That is the life of the Spirit, focusing on God's assistance, rather than trying to do things on our own.

 

[justbyfaith]

You can be *like* Jesus. But good luck being as *perfect* as Jesus! ;)

He is the one who does the work! (Hebrews 10:14 (kjv)).

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Doesn't it depend on why you didn't want to do better?

Yes you're right, the reason being that if I did the best thing, the result would be different, not what I wanted so in that case? I think I know the answer anyway but I'm still not sure.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Yes you're right, the reason being that if I did the best thing, the result would be different, not what I wanted so in that case? I think I know the answer anyway but I'm still not sure.

Well, I'm not sure how to help, or even if you want help. But I think I can offer this. I can think of several reasons why I wouldn't want to do my best for someone. But in my better moments, I can think of nothing better to do than to treat someone with dignity and respect, and when it is up to me, to love that person the way God would want me to love them.

 

[justbyfaith]

There is definitely grace when we fail. That's what the blood of Jesus is for.

However, it should also be our attitude that we desire to walk in the Lord's perfection as concerning future obedience.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

Well, I'm not sure how to help, or even if you want help. But I think I can offer this. I can think of several reasons why I wouldn't want to do my best for someone. But in my better moments, I can think of nothing better to do than to treat someone with dignity and respect, and when it is up to me, to love that person the way God would want me to love them.

Yes thanks, this was not really to do with dignity and respect, I want to change in the respect I was talking about though. Thanks for admitting that you also have times you didn't want to do the best for someone, we can all confess our sins, God shows us the ugly parts of us and I don't like it but I want to change this, it's just so hard. I'm thinking it is sin if we don't change right? Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I also agree in the view that you can't always be aiming that you could've done better otherwise there would be self-condemnation.

 

[thelord's_pearl]

there's also the 'love your neighbor as yourself' commandment so that seems to answer the question, to treat others as you would want to be treated and the outcome would then be in God hands. Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm set in a new way now. I just have to try harder.

 

[Randy Kluth]

He is the one who does the work! (Hebrews 10:14 (kjv)).

If you don't think you're doing any work yourself, you're fooling yourself. We live by the power of Christ by *choosing* to do so, by obeying God's word to our hearts. We will *never* do so perfectly, as long as we live in this sinful flesh.

If you think you play no role in living the Christian life, you must never do anything right or good? If Christ did it all for you, you surely won't be wearing the fine white linen of righteousness, because that belongs to the saints whose deeds are righteous.

Rev 19.7 For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

If you don't do any "righteous acts," you won't be "dressed in white, and you won't participate in Christ's return from heaven. But I feel confident you'll be there! ;)

 

[justbyfaith]

If you don't think you're doing any work yourself, you're fooling yourself.

Possibly. But the work that I do myself isn't going to perfect me.

The work that is done by Christ is that He sheds abroad His love in my heart through the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).

My part is to live by that love. However, really, it is God who works in me both to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

We live by the power of Christ by *choosing* to do so, by obeying God's word to our hearts. We will *never* do so perfectly, as long as we live in this sinful flesh.

We do not have to be obedient to the flesh (Romans 8:12-13).

If I walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, then the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in me (Romans 8:4) and that, not imperfectly (1 John 3:7).

If you think you play no role in living the Christian life, you must never do anything right or good? If Christ did it all for you, you surely won't be wearing the fine white linen of righteousness, because that belongs to the saints whose deeds are righteous.

Please explain to me how that makes any kind of sense to you. Because it makes no sense to me.

Rev 19.7 For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.”
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

Rev 19:7, Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8, And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Why is it more accurate to say that the fine linen is the righteousness of saints, rather than the righteous acts of saints?

Simple.

Because we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

And also, consider.

Phl 3:9, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

The "fine linen" is not the righteousness which is of the law (which would be righteous acts); but it is the righteousness which is of God by faith (which has to do with an inward reality that amounts to the love of the Lord being shed abroad in one's heart).

The righteousness of saints will most assuredly result in righteous acts.

But the righteousness is not the acts themselves; but it is the inward transformation that is accomplished in the heart of the genuine believer in Christ.

If you don't do any "righteous acts," you won't be "dressed in white, and you won't participate in Christ's return from heaven.

For reasons stated above, I disagree with you.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Yes thanks, this was not really to do with dignity and respect, I want to change in the respect I was talking about though. Thanks for admitting that you also have times you didn't want to do the best for someone, we can all confess our sins, God shows us the ugly parts of us and I don't like it but I want to change this, it's just so hard. I'm thinking it is sin if we don't change right? Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I also agree in the view that you can't always be aiming that you could've done better otherwise there would be self-condemnation.

I would like to add two more thoughts if you like. I design houses for a living and once in awhile, after looking back over my design, I think of things I could have done better. But I also have come to realize that I did the best I could at the time and only in retrospect do I see a "better way." I think it is good to look at things in retrospect for a moment, but at the same time, to realize our limitations. We aren't God. I mean, we don't have the ability to know, in advance, which course of action will turn out for the "better." I think God want's me to take stock of my limitations and to embrace them as my personal truth. God has given me the gift of rational thought, which allows me to see "the better" in retrospect. But being a limited creature, I can't always know "the better" in advance.

Second, over time I have come to embrace a particular mental attitude that seems appropriate, which is found in the New Testament.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

When I draw a house plan for someone, I realize my primary client is the home owner. But as I do the work, I remember Paul's words to do my work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men. This attitude helps me do my best for everyone.