Logs and specks - Hope 103.2

Logs and specks

By David ReayFriday 7 Apr 2017LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes

Transcript:

Read Luke 6:41-42

41 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42 How can you think of saying, ‘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. (NLT)

It is so easy to jump to conclusions about others. It is so easy to find fault in others. One reason we so often do this is to get the attention off ourselves. Instead of addressing our own issues, we spend the time focussing on others’ issues. Instead of correcting our own failings, we get preoccupied with the failings of others.

Jesus is not telling us to refrain from criticising others. Any true friend will want to help another friend and part of that helping may mean kindly correction. After all, he does say we can legitimately remove the speck from their eye. It is just that we can’t do that very helpful thing without also being aware of our own faults.

To seek to correct another’s faults while being blind to your own is like literally trying to remove a tiny speck from their eye while having blurred vision yourself. It is not only difficult but dangerous. You can only be constructively critical of others if you are likewise being critical of yourself. Otherwise you become a interfering, hypocritical blunderer, blissfully unaware of your own failings whilst telling the world about others’ failings.

It is good to deal with the specks. It is even better to deal with the logs.

Blessings
David Reay