Clearing My Vision!

Yesterday I went through much of the day feeling like I had something in MY EYE. Looking around was fine, but whenever I closed MY EYES it felt like there was something under my left eyelid rubbing against MY EYE. I wasn’t sure if while we had watched our local Rhody Festival parade something had blown into my eye and was still there or if I had merely irritated MY EYE from rubbing it after something had been. Finally, late in the evening, I asked my wife if she would take a look. I would not have been comfortable with my wife poking around MY EYE while something obstructed her vision. However, the first thing she did was to go get her glasses and then a flashlight so she could clearly see to help. She knew her own vision was going to be important for the task.

Jesus rebuked those who took a critical view of others while failing to do the same for themselves. He even illustrated His point in an almost humorous (or tongue in cheek) manner. However, the problem He addressed was quite serious and unfortunately far too common.

As Jesus was teaching against a fault-finding spirit, He asked and exhorted…
“(3) 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? (4) 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? (5) You hypocrite, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR BROTHER’S EYE.” ( Matthew 7:3-5 ESV)

Jesus’ illustration pictured those who would tend to magnify the faults of others while minimizing their own. How often do people have excuses ready for themselves, but leave no excuse for others? It is often too easy to look around our own faults while seeing so clearly the faults of others. Even David quickly became angry when a situation was revealed to him by Nathan, even stating that such a one deserved to die. However, Nathan immediately made it clear to David that it was David’s own sin that was so great. ( 2 Samuel 12:1-10)

We cannot help others while blinded to our own sin. Besides, why should we expect others to be receptive to our efforts to help them with their struggles when there is no apparent effort to deal with our own shortcomings? An honest estimation of ourselves may surprise us, but it should also serve to humble us.

Note Jesus did not say, “Don’t help your brother.” The speck was not to be completely ignored. The speck was still a speck to be dealt with. However, self is to be dealt with in the process so as to be able to more adequately see to help another. Dealing with the log in our OWN EYE will allow us to see more clearly.

As we honestly deal with the logs in our own life we will develop the gentleness, humility, and patience necessary in lovingly aiding others with their speck. May we be humble enough to develop the vision that will benefit both our life and the life of those around us.

Have a great day SEEING AS GOD WOULD HAVE US!
Carl

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