Log Jam

Matthew 7:3-4 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?


In my experience we have two ailments that both deal with judgement. One of them is found in this scripture passage. We can tend to see other peoples faults when we have faults that are as obvious or even more obvious. We focus on the other person and neglect examination of ourselves. We often have this desire, perhaps even at times a need, to try to change others around us. A wife who has some behaviors that annoy you, or some things that don't do as well or as often as you might like. Your efforts are to take that problem out of your wife so she will be perfect. At the same time she is trying to change you, perhaps you are away too much or you are emotionally unavailable when at home, or you don't do your share with the household tasks or the kids. We judge and try to change the other.

At other times we look at other peoples lives and see them as perfection. We think they have all the money in the world, the best kids, the best home, the best life. At the same time we see all our faults and all our weaknesses, and all the things we want for our lives and we condemn ourselves. Something must be wrong with us that our life is lacking. Marsha had that issue at one time. She thought some friends of ours had the perfect relationship. As time went on she began to see the reality of their life. She came up with a couple of her life principles that were found in cliches she used again and again. One of them said if you want someone else's life you can't take just part but you have to get the whole thing. The other was that we often judge other peoples lives by their outsides and our own by our insides.

One thing is clear that judgement in any form creates problems. God wants us to avoid that problem.