The Eyes Have It

Why are we so judgmental?

“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. - Matthew 7:1-12

Jesus wants us to see ourselves for who and what we are.  He knows we put ourselves first and foremost, and everyone else comes after us.

When we let our egos control our thinking, we judge others and treat them differently than we treat ourselves.

But it is hard to see ourselves through the eyes of others.  And when we look into a mirror, we don't always see the truth.

So, what do we do to avoid being judgmental of others?

Some think we should be self-loathing, seeing ourselves as potentially evil, needing redemption and salvation, and to the extent that we are sinners, we do need these things, but should we hate ourselves in the process?

I think Jesus would warn us against that.

He said we should love our neighbors as ourselves.  So, if we hate ourselves, we will naturally hate our neighbors, or will we?

The challenge here is to strike the right balance.  God loves us whether we are good or bad, and though He is the only true judge, He leaves us to work through our own situations.

Eventually, we will come before Him or call upon Him for help, and then we will have our chance to redeem ourselves.

As for everyone else, they will have their turn as well.

So, do we live and let live?

Or do we feel we need to stand up for what we believe is right, and cast judgment on those who we know to be wrong?

If we do, we should expect others to do the same to us.

More to come...