Devotional week 44
“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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3–5 (NIV)
Recently, my sister while thinking aloud, asked; “why do people who lack respect demand so much respect from others?” her thought reechoes Jesus’ question in Matthew 7:3-5. Here, Jesus compares the magnitude of error in a person who is faulty and another who finds the fault using the imagery of plank and sawdust.
A speck is usually a very tiny bit of something whereas, a plank is sizeable enough not only to be noticed, but also capable of causing distractions.
As I reflect on my life as a young woman, I remember that I was once tough and very strict with people for their unseeming behaviours, and I felt that my firmness in response to an uncomely behaviour was the best way to communicate truth, and that my hardness earned me some respect and admiration from others. What I didn’t know was that my attitude only revealed my impatience, intolerance and inability to relate lovingly with people, and this made me lose great friendships as well as opportunities to shine God’s light through my character.
Similarly, many Christians are quick to get irritated at other people’s excesses especially when they approve of themselves in a given manner. Self-approval of any sort can become “the plank” in our eyes which we must take off so that we can behave properly towards one another and be approved of God our Father. One way to take off the “plank” in our eyes is to make room for each other’s fault (Col 3:13), knowing that God has made room enough for us all in Christ Jesus.
We do not necessarily have to cheer people up for their wrongs, but we can lovingly reveal God’s truth to them by staying right in how we handle and respond to their errors. This is why we must bring our hearts out before the Lord like David in Psalm 139:23-24.
Challenge
Instead of criticizing an idea, a person or a thing, think of ways you could add more value to people and things this week.
Prayer
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is an offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Devotional by Onemfien Victor Ntah