Judging Others

It took me a while but I have learned that I have the tendency to judge and hate in others what I hate most in myself. I have condemned and been harsh to people I have judged as hypocrites, when I too often behaved hypocritically. I have spoken out against slackers and their mediocrity when this is one of the big issues in my own personal life. I hate the sloth and the pride I see in others when these are the very same things I am struggling with.

When I learned this lesson, I have become more accepting and forgiving of others, knowing that they are probably in the same struggle that I am in. I have learned that I need to change myself before I can even think of changing others. And as I came to know myself better, I have become less judgmental of other people.

A word spoken in anger often wounds. And the wound may take time, even years, to heal. Some wounds can be so deep, they will leave a scar forever. When I feel like judging others, I watch out for my words and make an effort to speak only words of healing and forgiveness.

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
~ Psalm 33

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged.
For as you judge, so will you be judged,
and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’
while the wooden beam is in your eye?
You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5