Monday, April 14, 2008

Pardon me -- is there a plank in my eye??

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Luke 6:42 (NIV) I was talking to some friends of mine the other day and I was commenting on how "odd" the people were at a certain super-store after 9 or 10 0'clock in the evening. Then I realized that I was judging these folks simply on the way they looked, dressed, acted, talked, etc. For all I know, they were judging me. Maybe, I am one of those people that someone else commented to their friends about the next day. YIKES!!! The Bible says you reap what you sow. (Gal 6:7) So I guess I had that coming. Webster's dictionary defines the verb "to judge" as: "to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises; to sit in judgment on; to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation; govern, rule —used of a Hebrew tribal leader; to form an estimate or evaluation of; especially: to form a negative opinion about guess." I fear that I am guilty of forming an opinion without deliberation. So, what does the Bible have to say about this? Simply -- don't do it!! There are numerous passages in which we are told not to judge others. (Matt 7:1) We are told that by judging we are calling down the same type of judgement on ourselves. (Matt 7:2; Luke 6:37) But we are told that if we are to judge people to do it with righteousness and treat them fairly. (Lev 19:15). We've all heard the verse that tell us to remove the "PLANK" in our own eye before we try to take the "speck" out of someone else's eye. (Matt 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). Wow -- what a point that makes. Notice how all the scripture passages refer to a plank. Webster's has the perfect definition for the term: "a heavy thick board; especially : one 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) thick and at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide." That is awfully large and in comparison to a speck, it's a wonder anyone can see around the plank to pick out the speck. SO, maybe just maybe when we're looking at someone else to judge them, maybe we're merely catching a small glimpse of our plank. We should take care of matters in our own arena before branching out to help the rest of the world. After all, it's kind of hard to be objective and treat people fairly when you can't really see the entire picture because of the "thick board" in your eye. As a result of my conviction of judging those people I mentioned above, I am now taking my energy to pray for those same folks. If I feel judgement well up inside me, then I plan to confess that to the Lord and offer up a prayer for that person or persons. However, I still reserve the right to judge snakes as vile and downright freaky!! I don't plan to get close enough to one of them to see a speck and if I do, I may just have to hit them with the plank that I yank from my own eye. Please don't judge me because I don't like snakes. Just say a prayer for me, will ya?? Dear Lord -- I thank you Father for the conviction that tells me I am wrong to pass judgement on others no matter how "innocent" it may seems. I thank you for forgiving me and allowing me to find a better alternative. I thank you for prayer and for all the different people in this world and the various backgrounds and histories we all have. Thank you for being You!! AMEN Application:

  • Do you find yourself silently judging others? Or not so silently?
  • What "plank" do you have in your own eye? Pray for God to show you how to remove it.
  • Pray that Lord will give you a heart for people and pray for them and not judge them.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't see others' faults for the gigantic plank in my eye. I so agree with this. I try so hard not to judge others.
Gina @ Gina's Public Diary

Denise said...

Bless you dear one.