It's human nature to point a finger when we think someone else is guilty of something but yet we don't stop to consider that we too may be guilty of the very same thing we are accusing others of. Why is it so easy to turn a blind eye and overlook our own faults and yet so easy to see these faults in someone else? For some reason, we take pleasure in judging, condemning and criticizing others. Does it take the spotlight off us in drawing attention to someone else?
As I already mentioned, we do this because we are human. We live in the flesh which is naturally sinful. But once we are saved, we crucify this flesh and start living as a new creature in Christ. With spiritual maturity comes this submission in doing God's will for us. We as a Christian know that we should be able to see the plank in our own eye before we point out the speck in someone else's eye.
Jesus told us in His words found in Matt. 7:1-5. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in your own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (NKV)
We shouldn't point out other's faults because as Jesus said, if we go around judging others someday we are going to have to stand before God Almighty and be judged more severely.
In order for us to become mature in Christ, it takes some work on our part. It doesn't end when we say the Sinner's Prayer. We have to continue to study up on God's Word and get rooted deeply. This is accomplished by developing a deep relationship with our Creator through daily prayer and daily study of His Word. The two must go hand in hand. Upon this spiritual growth, a true Christian can not continue to deliberately sin. Even a born again Christian falls from time to time, but the difference is, they will learn from their mistakes and help others to see the truth as well.
Being a Christian doesn't give us a license to criticize or judge anyone else because we are not perfect, contrary to popular belief. Any professed Christian who does think this is the case is then guilty of the sin of pride and self righteousness! God alone is the judge over all. He has His ways to deal with us when we fall. As any loving parent, He is patient and makes sure we learn our lesson before He'll allow us to continue on. He won't keep piling more responsibilities on us until we have learned the lesson at hand. For some it comes faster and easier and so they advance quicker but for others they may be kept going around and around the same mountain for a lot longer than they maycare to admit.
This could be due to having planks in our own eyes and not seeing it for the speck in someone else's. Let's take a look at a character in the Bible who had such a plank in his eye. Even though he was a man after God's own heart, David was not a perfect speciman. But God has a way of using who He chooses. David was still highly favored by God in spite of his own weaknesses, which God dealt with. David had to go through the refiner's fire in order to be the king God intended him to be.
David was human just like the rest of us. He was guilty of lust, covetousness, fornication with another man's wife which led to murder. These certainly are not things to be proud of, but still David was able to overlook these faults and was quick to judge the actions of another man. God sent Nathan a prophet to tell David a parable which pointed out the injustice that was done to an innocent man. Instead of realizing his own guilt, David was quick to bring down the gavel of a guilty verdict. It was then that Nathan told David, "You are that man". (2 Sam. 12)
As David saw it fit to give the guilty man a death sentence, it's a good thing that God is slow to anger and has far more patience and forgiveness! This was an eye opener for David who then saw a very big plank in his own eye! He immediately acknowledged his sins against the Lord. Did God forgive Him? Of course He did but not without suffering some consequences first. David went on to become a very great and powerful king but he still had to suffer the death of his infant son who was created through his lustful affair with Bathsheba. He prayed and fasted during the death of his son, but once he died, he got up and went on his way. Was he bitter against God for doing this? No, he realized that God did what needed to be done, and he still praised him and then put it all behind him to let God have His way in him. David was left quite humbled and was now strong spiritually to be anointed as king.
The next time you are quick to point out someone else's faults, take a step back and look into the mirror of your soul and search for that plank. Make sure it hasn't dulled your vison or even blinded you to the truth about yourself.
"There is none who does good, no, not one." Ps. 14:3
Just remember by pointing a finger it seperates us from others but Christian fellowship builds us up and binds us together.
Vivian Gordon is inspired by the Holy Spirit to write these articles in order to spread God's message to others who may not understand how much He loves them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the... Read More
Are you always looking for bargains, especially something that you... Read More
There is power in meanings of the old images and... Read More
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.... Read More
Did you happen to see the made-for-tv movie, "Jesus," that... Read More
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you... Read More
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken... Read More
In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More
THE PREMISEFeng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that has... Read More
I can't boast about my culinary skill, because I just... Read More
A subject of debate for thousands of years, spirituality will... Read More
I have a long-term goal--a life-long goal really--to develop the... Read More
What the Animals Tell Us"I am the Sun's son. I... Read More
Meeting someone so attractive, so beautiful. Your heart beats like... Read More
... Read More
Back in 1992, Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise co-starred in... Read More
We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More
Let's take a look at all these aspects. The bible... Read More
The practice of meditating on loving-kindness may be over two... Read More
Who among us really understands the chakras? For all that... Read More
We make sense of our world via the senses. The... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
As communion was being passed this morning, I listened to... Read More
In the make-believe world, too, fiction and films are filled... Read More
In Corrogue the air is chill and the frost is... Read More
Fanny J. Crosby's famous hymn, "Tell Me the Story of... Read More
Why do bad things happen to good people? Surely this... Read More
I do not want curiosity seekers, who come for a... Read More
What does the story of your life say about you?... Read More
The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as... Read More
There are many different and interchangeable terms that are used... Read More
No one, not even God can make us choose the... Read More
The deeper beauty of spring is its process. In winter's... Read More


The truth revealed as we read about Hazael also reminds... Read More
The ultimate purpose of dreaming is to provide you with... Read More
It's the most powerful weapon on Earth. It can turn... Read More
I believe in a phenomenon I have been known to... Read More
"In the sixth century of the sixth millennium, the gates... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
My wife, our friend and I went to listen to... Read More
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given.... Read More
Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we... Read More
Matthew 3:4-6 John Baptizes the People4 Now John wore a... Read More
There is a specific technique that a Shaman uses to... Read More
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in... Read More
The world's idea of justice and freedom fall short of... Read More
There is light at the end of the tunnel, but... Read More
"I resolve to speak ill of no man?and proper occasions... Read More
Observations from the Town Car... "Home James!"The bulk of driving... Read More
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
What's a cosmic 2 x 4 you ask? It's actually... Read More
Did we just overlook the amount of love that God... Read More
Well I had a website that I was posting on... Read More
Do you know where your current path is taking you?Education,... Read More
"Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as... Read More
The Mystical Experience"The mysteries of life become lucid ? and... Read More
Limiting beliefs, just like positive, empowering thoughts, provide a foundation... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth. (Channelled)From time to time... Read More
Forget what you have read or seen about vampires. The... Read More
Among those arriving to the stadium early were two old... Read More
Setting boundaries is a common expression that we hear almost... Read More
Although your creative ability and talent is something that God... Read More
One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More
The normal Aquarian preoccupation with rational science is clearly seen... Read More
One of the most difficult barriers... Read More
Spirituality |