Pointing Fingers (to criticize)

I am not happy to admit this, but at times, I can be critical...of others, even of myself. I believe the worst kind of criticism, however, is when we criticize others when we, ourselves, are guilty of doing the same thing! I believe this happens sometimes because we fail to see our own guilt.

I was speaking with someone recently who went on and on about the things that were done wrong to them...never once acknowledging the things they did wrong to others. God doesn't want us to condemn others and look past the sin in our own lives. There are no "big" sins or "little" sins...sin is sin, and God wants us to acknowledge our sin and repent of it.

Matthew 7:1 and 4 says...

"Judge not, and you will not be judged...How can you think to say, "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own eye?"

God is telling us not to have a critical spirit...pointing out the wrongs of others (notice he calls their issues a speck) especially when we have our own issues (notice he calls our issue a log).

This doesn't mean, however, that we can't point out sin...if someone comes to us or God leads us to go and talk to someone who is overtaken with a fault, we are to seek God's wisdom in what we say, but we are always to speak the truth in love (and God's Word is our source of truth...not what we think or our own opinions).

Romans 2:1 - 3 says...

"You may say, 'What terrible people you are talking about! But you are just as bad...when you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself because you do the very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish those who do such things. Do we not think that God will judge and condemn others...and not judge you when you do them, too?'

So, the next time we are tempted to criticize or point our fingers at someone else who is doing wrong, let us first examine ourselves...and then let us speak the truth in love.