Consider the Plank

I believe the following statement is typical of most inhabitants in the world.  Seeing another individual’s faults, yet failing to see their own shortcomings is characteristic of humanity, generally speaking.  For some reason, prying minds are enthralled with other people’s dealings to the point of thinking they have all the answers to right the wrongs in another person’s life.  Honestly, I cannot think of anything else that comes easier than standing in judgment of others, which is frowned upon by God.

When I was a youngster, my mom told me that if I pointed my finger at someone else, three fingers were pointing back at me.  She was saying, in essence, “Don’t be so quick to judge.”  Mom made me aware that I should not criticize or challenge another person’s behavior or choices when my backyard may be full of like things as theirs or perhaps even worse.

It is an “elective duty” that people take upon themselves to straighten out another person, as it were.  It is easy to stand on the outside of someone’s house-of-affairs and think they can do things better than they.  But the critical observer may not have all of the facts nor see things from the other party’s prospective. 

Perception is something interpreted through a mental impression, which is not always as it seems.  If a “duty minded” person is not walking in the same shoes as those going through certain challenges of life, it stands to reason that it becomes easier to pick apart the other person’s motivation when all the facts are not known, especially when they themselves are blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other, figuratively speaking.

If we live in a glasshouse, we should't throw rocks.  Likewise, seeing faults in someone is not a license to act upon that observation when there is blurred vision involved.  To see clearly to assist someone else takes clear vision on our part, which involves removing the things out of our own life before trying to help those that are facing far less ordeals than we are.  Our efforts will be rejected as they exclaim, “Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?  Look at your own life!”

(Matthew 7:3-5), “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”  vs.4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?”  vs.5 “Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Someone that is head-over-heels in debt; owing everyone under the sun, has no business giving advice to those having missed a car payment unless they themselves get their house in order by eliminating debts.  They may then be able to advise those having financial setbacks on how to manage their money.

People are quick to find fault in others even though they are a mess themselves.  We can all learn from the teaching in (Matthew 7:3-5) if we heed its message.  It will help to free us from the responsibility that we have placed upon our shoulders of living another person’s life for them.  Losing sleep when they make bad choices is not healthy. 

The Lord can make good out of bad situations when called upon in times of need.  God will never leave nor forsake His children. 

In my opinion, learning by our mistakes is sometimes the best teacher when the advice from others fails to hit home, thus, falling on deaf ears.  But there are extenuating circumstances that can certainly enter into this scenario, which should allow consideration.

A development of events beyond their control may open the door for deliberation on such matters, but wisdom should always be implemented prior to involving oneself financially or any other way if lessons need to be learned. 

People mean well when they bail another person out of their woes of which lighthearted decision-making may have created.  I believe it is an attempt by the enabler to ease the pain or burden that falling into a pit can cause, especially if they themselves stumbled, because of similar pitfalls. 

How will a person learn to stand on their own two feet and prevent from being entangled in foolish spending and wasting money if a rope is always thrown to them when they send out an SOS?  This undisciplined lifestyle of throwing money to the wind is like saying, “Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself.” 

Who am I to tell them how they have erred if I do likewise or worse?  Time will reveal what mistakes they have made, and hopefully they won’t repeat them.  Each of us needs to consider the plank in our own eye and remove it so that we can see clearly how to remove the particle of sawdust from someone else’s eye.

Whenever I am tempted to speak my mind about what another person is doing or not doing, the Holy Spirit is quick to remind me of my shortcomings, which helps me to re-evaluate my thoughts and control my tongue.  My prayer is as follows:

(Psalm 141:3), “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”

It is not fun to look inward, because of what may be revealed, but these are the moments when God can help us draw neigh to Him by helping us to behold the plank in our eye and then doing something about it.  This is the process by which Christians learn to put off the old, sin nature and put on awareness of how to become more like Christ.

I thank God for His love and patience in making me conscious of areas that need improvement.  The Lord helps me to enlarge the boarders of my understanding, while improving our relationship with one another. 

He will do the same for you if you want more of God; Who will enable you to be a true help to those around you.  Clear vision will follow when the plank has been considered and removed from your eye.

Written by,

Papa Boyd