WHY IS IT THAT WE CAN SEE THE FAULTS OF OTHERS SO CLEARLY, BUT OFTEN FAIL TO SEE OUR OWN SHORTCOMINGS?
Roger D. Campbell
As human beings, each one of us is imperfect. That includes Christians. Our weaknesses and shortcomings are usually apparent to those that observe us, especially those who know us well. Sometimes our habits do more than frustrate others: sometimes they cross the line and are violations of God’s will. A child of God who denies that he ever commits sin, is not telling the truth (1 John 1:8,10).
The following conversation is fictitious, but see if it does not have a familiar ring to it.
Person 1: "You know, it’s kinda hard to tell you something when you keep cutting me off in the middle of a sentence and won’t let me finish my thought. All I am trying to say..."
Person 2: "You’re one to talk. You do the same thing all the time. In fact..."
Person 1: "No, I don’t – you’re the one who is the master at cutting people off..."
Person 2: "It’s funny how you think I’m so awful, but you never let me finish a sentence before you break in..."
In this fictional, but true-to-life conversation, what do we see? Two people who are convinced that the other person has an irritating habit. In reality, both are guilty of doing the very same thing, though, while they readily see it and point it out in the other, they refuse to see it (or at least admit it) in themselves.
Do you recall the response that David had when the prophet Nathan told him a story about how a rich man had mistreated and taken advantage of a poor man? "And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die" (2 Samuel 12:5). Here comes the punch line: "And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man" (12:7). David had sinned against God, Bathsheba, and Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Yet, David failed to see his error. But, when he heard of someone else’s mistake, he easily saw the sin involved and was incensed by the man’s action. This was a classic case of clearly seeing someone else’s fault, but failing to see one’s own transgression. Thankfully, when David came face to face with the horror of his sin, he saw his mistake, admitted it, and repented of it.
People do not take it well when we try to point out an error on their part, but we are guilty of the same thing. It is just human nature to tell the other fellow to get his act cleaned up before he comes trying to straighten us out. Do you remember the strong words of Romans 2:21? "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, does thou steal?" Earlier in that same chapter we read these stinging words: ". . . for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things" (Romans 2:1). Again, we can usually see so plainly our brother’s fault, but at times we are blind to the same fault in our own lives.
When you or I see a member of the church "overtaken in a fault" (Galatians 6:1), we have a responsibility to him. What is it? The verse goes on to say, ". . . ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." According to the Scriptures, it is possible for us to recognize when a fellow saint is living in sin. And, when we see that such is the case, we are to take action: do our best to help them see their fault and repent of it. Christians are also told to reprove or rebuke the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). Thus, there are, indeed, instances where God’s children are to address the mistakes that others commit.
As we contemplate the faults of others, however, there is always a need for us to take a serious look at ourselves. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Jesus spoke about the need for His followers to "consider" themselves. "And why beholdest thou the mote [speck, NKJV] that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam [plank, NKJV] that is in thine own eye. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye: and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). The judging that Jesus condemned was hypocritical judging. Are you and I guilty of it? We are if we point out a person’s fault, but we ourselves have the very same shortcoming and refuse to make a change. It is one thing for a person to have a weakness which he admits and is sincerely trying to overcome. It is another matter entirely to refuse to see our fault when it is so obvious to everyone else.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity (1 Corinthians 13:6). In view of that truth, God’s people should take no delight in seeing others transgress His law. Jesus loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Hebrews 1:9), but it brought Him no joy to be able to point out people’s mistakes. Like Jesus, you and I must also hate sin. Especially should we hate the sin that we see in ourselves.
As a gospel preacher, I must be careful lest, in my zeal to help correct the errors of others, I am guilty of the same errors and refuse to correct them. As a husband, I must take heed, lest I rush to point out the faults of the wife of my youth, but I possess the very same flaws and refuse to deal with them. As a father, I must be careful to avoid the trap of slamming my kids for having a character flaw, when all the while they learned it from me and I refuse to admit it or to work earnestly to correct my own fault.
Self-evaluation is a healthy exercise for every Christian. Each of us needs to evaluate him/herself in a serious, thorough, honest fashion. Am I one of those folks who can easily see the faults of others, but fails to see his own personal shortcomings? If I am, then I need to repent of my blindness and strive, with God’s help, to do better.
