Judge Yourself

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 20:6

If you entered a contest that required that the thing that you entered was judged based on its physical appearance, when placed by the other contestants entries, would you be focused on how your entry looked, or would you be trying to find any and all faults in the others? Considering that you had submitted your entry yourself you would likely think that yours is about as perfect as you can get it, and just maybe your attention would be focused on trying to find the faults in everyone else’s. 

That is somewhat like how some people view others around them. They will compare themselves to others, and try to find any faults that they can, while completely ignoring their own. At least in someone’s own mind they might be “better” or “superior” to someone else, and because of this feeling they completely choose to ignore their own mistakes and shortcomings. They ignore the fact that they too are sinners.

Speaking of the Jews, Paul writes, “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one:

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:9-12

When Jesus was crucified, the Jews cried out, Crucify Him!! They tried to find fault with Him while they were the real sinners. Ignoring the fact that they themselves had plenty of work to do on themselves, they tried to find fault with Jesus. They were the ones who were deserving of punishment, not Christ.

That is the feeling of pride in a person. The feeling that says, I’ve never sinned like that person. Those people are such sinners, not me. 

Someone who is filled with pride will automatically try to find even the smallest problem that someone else has, and exploit it to make themselves appear to be so much better and holier. 

The passage of Scripture in John 8 gives us a perfect example of exactly how people can point the finger at others, while ignoring their own faults. 

“Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:1-11

Jesus didn’t condemn the woman to death because of her sins. The Pharisees certainly would have, but Jesus convicted their hearts that they too had sinned. And that if they were to stone the woman because of her sins, they would be condemning themselves at the same time, because they too, were sinners. 

Just as Jesus didn’t condemn that woman to death for her sins, He continues everyday to extend His mercy and forgiveness to the entire world. He could end the Earth right now, but He hasn’t, because He is merciful.

We are all sinners, some more and some less, but we have all come short. Don’t sit and point the finger at others, look to yourself first. Judge yourself.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

In Christ,

Andrew