A Heart Check

A Cure For Faultfinding

Just stand aside, and watch yourself go by;

Think of yourself, as "he" instead of "I."

Pick flaws, find fault, forget the man is you,

And strive to make your estimate ring true.

The faults of others then will dwarf and shrink.

Love's chain grows stronger by one mighty link,

When you with "he" as substitute for "I,"

Have stood aside, and watched yourself go by.

~ Strickland W. Gillilan

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How quick we are to see the faults of another. How easily we pick out their failings. Yet when it comes to ourselves we are often blinded. We who so readily jumped to point out the faults in those around us, cannot see our own worst faults. Yes, we admit that we are sinners, but when someone, out of love, points to some fault they notice in us, we get all fired up. "No, not me," You say.

~*~

The Bible says, " Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your owe eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1-5). It also says that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and have fallen short, we have all missed God's mark. We are all in need of correction. Proverbs 8:33 says, "Hear instruction and be wise." And Proverbs 12:1 says, "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

~*~

I could go on and on listing verses that teach us to first seek to get ourselves right with God before we correct others, and verses that teach that accepting correction is wise. But, I will not, because I do not have time, and maybe you do not either. I just wanted to remind you that next time you are tempted to judge someone, study your heart. What are your reasons for correcting him or her? Are you right with God yourself? Find out your motives, then seek God's wisdom on the matter. As Christians it is sometimes right, and good, for us to correct our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we must always do so with care and lots of prayer.

This heart check comes from a heart that sometimes jumps to correct others before examining itself and checking its motives. We are on this journey together.

In Him,

Kaomi