I am taking an accounting class right now, it is a prerequisite to a Quick Books class, so I can do my bookkeeping on-line efficiently. I texted my husband the other day, and said, somewhat cryptically, "I know why I don't like accounting--no grace".
It's not that I disapprove of the process of keeping accurate records of where money comes from and where it gets spent. I think that's wisdom. I firmly believe every high school student should be required to take an accounting class, and every college student should be required to take another accounting class. It makes us keenly aware of the balance between what is coming in, financially speaking, and what is flowing out, and how quickly it is coming and going. It gives us a forum to ask the tough questions like, "Is this how I want to spend my money?"
But, I find a latent "teenager" inside myself, rebelling at the teacher's admonition to "not make mistakes" in our record-keeping. She is advising us thusly because it requires a great deal of effort and form-filling-out to correct accounting errors once they have been posted to a general ledger.
But, somehow, instead of appreciating this sage advice from our instructor, there is a part of me that rebels at the instruction to "be perfect". I find myself internally nit-picking at the mistakes she makes as she teaches up front (I know, that's really going to help me learn the material!). I am a little disturbed at this phenomenon in my psyche, and yet, I believe it is hitting on a spiritual principle: a view of perfection shows up our flaws and that brings out the worst in us.
The Apostle Paul took quite a bit of space to explain this in Romans 7 and 8:
"Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In facet, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, 'You must not covet.' But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law's commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God's good commands for its own evil purposes." Romans 7:7-13 (New Living Translation)
A call for perfection shows up our imperfection but has no power to make us better than our weak selves. The answer, spiritually speaking, is found in grace through Jesus Christ:
"Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God" The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws , and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)" Romans 7:24-8:9 (New Living Translation)
That settles it in the spiritual realm, and now to get a much-needed attitude adjustment in my accounting class...
--Posted by Mama O.
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