The plank in our eyes?
Matt 7:3
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"
Self-righteousness is something all human beings have to deal with in their lifetime. While we do not want to be people who constantly battles with low self esteem, we also must be careful not to swing to the other extreme of self righteousness. God hates pride.
Very often, whether consciously or subconsciously, we judge the actions of other people in our hearts and minds. We may look upon somebody's behavior and think to ourselves how wrongly they have done it. Along with that thought, may be another concurrent thought that says, "I am much better in this. I'd never do something as low standard as that." Agree?
Although we all know we should not judge people, we still do it anyway. And sometimes, we feel so justified in our judgment or thoughts that we keep dwelling in them. To the extent that we don't see the 'plank' in our eyes anymore.
The bible contains wise words and advice inspired by God. Why be overly concerned with the speck in your brother's eyes and ignore the plank that is in your own eyes?? Alot of times, we fail to recognise that it's the plank that is in our own eyes that is preventing us from making the right judgment. The plank in our eyes hinders us from seeing the potential good in somebody. It makes us feel that we are the ones doing right, and everybody else is wrong or at least not as good as us.
This is a scary thing. If we can't see that the problem lies with ourselves, and we go around thinking that the fault always lies with someone else, we will lose ourselves altogether. If no matter where we go, the same problem always comes up, we might want to realise that the only constant through it all is 'us'!
So, we now see that the problem is likely to be us rather than that someone else. But it's not easy to come to terms with it, isn't it? It's hard to believe that we are the ones who need to change and not someone else, right? It takes time for us to absorb the fact that we are the ones preventing the blessings from coming into our lives. Right?!
Well, I guess we need to snap out of self-righteousness. We got to realise sometimes that the problem doesn't always lie in other people. We got to accept the truth that instead of demanding everyone else to change to suit us, we might want to change ourselves for the better so that we can be a better friend? Stop whining and questioning God why you are always the victim?! If anything, I have grounds to believe that you are just victimising yourself. Self-inflicted pain.
God will bring people who care and love you around you, to snap you out of this self-righteousness. Only people who love you will tell you the truth. Only they are willing to take the risk to say something that might offend you. But if we do not want to listen and insist on our own wayward thinking, God might just leave you alone.
No, I'm not trying to bite someone's ears off. And no, I am not referring to anyone I know in particular. It just suddenly came to my mind this topic and I feel like talking about it. And no again, it doesn't mean that we should never point out our friends' weaknesses in future for fear that it's just another plank in our own eyes. I am learning hard as well every single day. I still make the mistake as well. But I am trying.
I just want to say that we should try our best to be conscious of the plank in our own eyes. Don't magnify the speck in your brother's eyes and fail to notice the plank in your own.
Self-righteousness will eat away our soul. Don't let it.
"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"
Self-righteousness is something all human beings have to deal with in their lifetime. While we do not want to be people who constantly battles with low self esteem, we also must be careful not to swing to the other extreme of self righteousness. God hates pride.
Very often, whether consciously or subconsciously, we judge the actions of other people in our hearts and minds. We may look upon somebody's behavior and think to ourselves how wrongly they have done it. Along with that thought, may be another concurrent thought that says, "I am much better in this. I'd never do something as low standard as that." Agree?
Although we all know we should not judge people, we still do it anyway. And sometimes, we feel so justified in our judgment or thoughts that we keep dwelling in them. To the extent that we don't see the 'plank' in our eyes anymore.
The bible contains wise words and advice inspired by God. Why be overly concerned with the speck in your brother's eyes and ignore the plank that is in your own eyes?? Alot of times, we fail to recognise that it's the plank that is in our own eyes that is preventing us from making the right judgment. The plank in our eyes hinders us from seeing the potential good in somebody. It makes us feel that we are the ones doing right, and everybody else is wrong or at least not as good as us.
This is a scary thing. If we can't see that the problem lies with ourselves, and we go around thinking that the fault always lies with someone else, we will lose ourselves altogether. If no matter where we go, the same problem always comes up, we might want to realise that the only constant through it all is 'us'!
So, we now see that the problem is likely to be us rather than that someone else. But it's not easy to come to terms with it, isn't it? It's hard to believe that we are the ones who need to change and not someone else, right? It takes time for us to absorb the fact that we are the ones preventing the blessings from coming into our lives. Right?!
Well, I guess we need to snap out of self-righteousness. We got to realise sometimes that the problem doesn't always lie in other people. We got to accept the truth that instead of demanding everyone else to change to suit us, we might want to change ourselves for the better so that we can be a better friend? Stop whining and questioning God why you are always the victim?! If anything, I have grounds to believe that you are just victimising yourself. Self-inflicted pain.
God will bring people who care and love you around you, to snap you out of this self-righteousness. Only people who love you will tell you the truth. Only they are willing to take the risk to say something that might offend you. But if we do not want to listen and insist on our own wayward thinking, God might just leave you alone.
No, I'm not trying to bite someone's ears off. And no, I am not referring to anyone I know in particular. It just suddenly came to my mind this topic and I feel like talking about it. And no again, it doesn't mean that we should never point out our friends' weaknesses in future for fear that it's just another plank in our own eyes. I am learning hard as well every single day. I still make the mistake as well. But I am trying.
I just want to say that we should try our best to be conscious of the plank in our own eyes. Don't magnify the speck in your brother's eyes and fail to notice the plank in your own.
Self-righteousness will eat away our soul. Don't let it.
Comments
Is that simply human nature that we are always blind to our own planks?! Or it might just be as simple as humans are simple selfish and prideful pple who are not willing to admit our mistakes?!
hmmm... :/
Who likes to admit they are in the wrong? I find it hard all the time!!
i think at times we know we r in the wrong, we may even be conscious of the plank, but just refused to admit it and allow the plank to distract our vision...
haizz.. got to learn to humble ourselves...