Specks and Planks
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3
I read this quote today concerning self-righteousness:
“Self-righteousness is being more concerned for, and motivated by, the knowledge of the sin of others than your own.” (Dr. Paul Tripp)
He then said and asked the following; “Be honest right here and right now as you’re reading this.”
- Whose sin bugs you more? Your own or that of someone else near you?
- Who are you desperate to see changed? You or someone else in your life?
Those questions took me back to a devotional I read years ago by Stormie O’Martian called, “The Praying Wife.” When I started the study it was with the intention of praying for my husband and the things that I thought he was doing wrong. What a surprise when the first chapters were about the changes that I needed to make as a wife. It was very humbling.
I also remembered that years ago someone mentioned that when you are pointing a finger at someone else, there are more pointing back at you. Try it. Point your finger and notice how the others curl around and point right back at you.
I needed today’s reminder. It’s so easy to get on a tangent about what someone else has said or done and stay focused there rather than looking at our own issues. I cannot fix their issues, but I can, with God’s help remove the plank from my own eye.
Lord, thank you again for Your timely reminders. I’m so grateful that You are patient and forgiving with me and I pray that I will be the same way for others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
