Specks and Logs
Why is it that some people find it so easy to condemn the actions of others? It is human nature, I suppose, however why? It is because by condemning others we can deflect attention away from the sins in our lives. If I gossip, spread rumors (whether true or not) I can make sure everyone else knows how awful “they” are and how good I am. Jesus had something to say about that while teaching his followers:
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 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 7:1-5 {NLT})
We all have logs in our eyes. We all have sin in our lives. But we certainly don’t want to call attention to our shortcomings. So it’s much easier for me to point out the specks in others eyes, rather than allow others to see our logs.
It is my opinion that Jesus wants us not to broadcast the faults of others to world, but bear their burdens with them. We should help them and not judge them or talk about them. In turn, they can share our struggles as well. As a matter of fact, in his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
Let that sink in. The next time you are tempted to say something about someone else’s speck, stop, look in the mirror and think about your log. It may well save you and others heartache.
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 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 7:1-5 {NLT})
We all have logs in our eyes. We all have sin in our lives. But we certainly don’t want to call attention to our shortcomings. So it’s much easier for me to point out the specks in others eyes, rather than allow others to see our logs.
It is my opinion that Jesus wants us not to broadcast the faults of others to world, but bear their burdens with them. We should help them and not judge them or talk about them. In turn, they can share our struggles as well. As a matter of fact, in his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
Let that sink in. The next time you are tempted to say something about someone else’s speck, stop, look in the mirror and think about your log. It may well save you and others heartache.
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