Resolve Conflict by Looking At Our Own Faults
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for this blessed day. May I honestly see myself in and through your words. Amen.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
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 7:1-5 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Reading these verses many questions come to mind: Why can I see the faults of others and not my own? Is there a right way to show others their faults? Why do I feel the need to judge others for their faults? Does humility come into play here? How do I get the plank out of my own eye? Am I a hypocrite? Have I ever really prayed for God to show me my log? Do I really want to hear what He might say? Within these verses, three subjects come to mind: judging others, our brothers speck, and our own plank.
The first two verses are about judging. Jesus states that we are not to judge others, or we will be judged as well. But, if you do judge others, you will be judged in the same way. On the other hand, Jesus also states, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 NIV) These verses seem perplexing. On one hand we’re told to not judge others, but then we are told, we should keep others accountable.
I believe that Jesus is saying that before we judge (condemn or confront) others, we must first repent and become clean ourselves. How do we do that?
APPLY:
When considering a speck and a plank, a speck could be defined along the terms of a minor fault or something that might fly into your eye, and a plank as something like a beam that could support an entire building. A small speck in an eye can be very irritating and fester enough to cause scratches and abrasions on the cornea. Then, imagine the pain of a plank in your eye. Both a speck and a plank can cause one to lose their eyesight. Our sight can be so impaired by the plank, that we have a hard time seeing ourselves and confronting that plank is painful. This self-examination might cause us to change, disrupt our lives, confront our sin, or recognize our own pride.
Prepare your heart for resolving conflict first through prayer. Praying will prepare our hearts in case the Lord wants to use us to help someone else’s speck. Through prayer we receive God’s love and grace, and we can be taught to “judge righteously” in love and humility. If we prayerfully approach God with a humble, open, and honest heart, He will show us our own plank. We can then confess the plank that He reveals to us, as we want to help others not with a proud heart but with a clean heart. We can then “judge righteously” only when we see our brother’s speck through Jesus’ eyes.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, please give me wisdom as to when to open and close my mouth. Help me use my words and deeds to edify my brothers and sisters in Christ. Allow me the opportunity to minister in love and gentleness. Let me not judge others un-righteously, but in righteousness. Show me my sins so that I can be cleansed. Take the plank out of my eye, so I can be your servant to others. Amen.
WORSHIP: