“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye: Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5 NLT)
Recently I received an “overdue” bill notice with an additional amount added to my payment. I was furious! I immediately called the company and began to rant and let them know how unhappy I was because “How can I pay a bill I didn’t know I owed!” Pretty convincing argument, right? Wrong! They HAD sent me a notice that I apparently ignored and filed away. The very soft-spoken company rep never changed her calm demeanor as I apologized and told her “I stand corrected, I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you.”
If only I could come to terms with my own “logs” in my eye when it’s my wife I’m harassing. Bruce Goff, a Family Life contributor, wrote: “An argument with your spouse is not a game to win. It’s an opportunity to love. One way we can love is by addressing our own blind spots.”
A disadvantage to growing older is our short-term memory is getting shorter and shorter, but I’m hounded by remembrances from years ago when I did the same kinds of things. Failing to see our own blind spots isn’t an issue of age so much as an issue of selfishness and pride.
Sometimes I get bent out of shape when my wife asks if I could run the sweeper or swiffer the floor. “What! Again? It’s only been 3 months!” I’m exaggerating a little bit, but what’s wrong with that picture? My mind immediately goes to ME! My time, energy, effort to please HER! But isn’t that the point?
What if my attitude was more “HER” focused and not so much “ME” focused? What if I shifted my thinking to realize what a privilege I have to be married to such an incredible woman? Why does she even have to ask? Bruce Goff concluded his article by asking: “So maybe next time you have an ‘exciting verbal exchange’ with your spouse, try, ‘Let me make sure I’m understanding you correctly …’”
The sad reality is, it’s not only our spouse with whom we have these “exciting verbal exchanges.” How many times have we been rude or short with someone on the phone or who comes to our door? Are we so quick to forget they are people with families and feelings too? Are we so forgetful that we fail to realize who WE are in Christ?
We’re a grain of sand on the beaches of the world, yet Jesus took notice of us. The King of the Universe, Creator, Sustainer, Ruler of all that is, seen and unseen, stoops to take notice of you and me! Why? Because He created us with value and worth, not because of who we are, but because of who we can become in Him!
How can we have any credibility with anyone when we’re so full of ourselves? How can we ever hope to influence someone positively for Jesus when we treat them like we’re the devil, seeing them as dirt under our fingernails?
Interactions with others must be seen as divine appointments, not a game to be played, but an opportunity to be Jesus to them, loving them like Jesus would. Think of all the people in the Bible that everyone discarded – the blind, lame, leprous, adulterous outcasts whom the Pharisees counted as “scum,” yet Jesus healed and made whole for His holy name’s sake. Let’s allow the Lord to help us get the “log” out of our eyes so we can see more clearly to get the “specks” out of another’s eye.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 