Let’s be honest: Do we know we have a log in our eye?

““Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?…Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Luke 6:39-42)

Presuming as we often do that we have the right, even the moral obligation, to call out the wrong in our fellow disciples, Jesus reminds us in his parable that even with the best of intentions, self-examination is necessary to a clear perspective and right judgment. 

The “blindness” Jesus wants to teach us about is not first the one that inhibits our seeing the wrong in others, but the one that prevents us from seeing ourselves. Our main “blind spot” is our own heart. Yet my own heart teaches me and shows me the wrong in others (Psalm 36:1). 

As disciples, we don’t prove our piety or signal our godliness by pointing out the “specks” or “chips” in the eyes of others, those matters or attitudes of the heart which may need correction. Rather, we prove or demonstrate our humility and maturity by seeing the “load-bearing roof beam” in our own eye and heart first. And, yet, if part of the lesson is that we are even blind to this, then that would mean we need someone else to see and point it out to us. 

Without the eyes of others, it’s hard to get around in this life. No one knows me better than my wife. For that reason:

1) Sometimes the hardest person to listen to when it comes to the habits and attitudes of my heart is Alissa. My heart doesn’t want to hear it! Too many times our excuse is, “Well, they don’t really know me.” But we can’t get away with that with the people who know us best.

2) I not only must be willing to listen to her, but I also must be willing to seek her out. The attitude of the wise is not only to welcome advice and counsel from others when it comes, but to actively search it out. 

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) This is a marvelous prayer…until God answers through the voice of another. Until He’s found something in me that He reveals through the confidence and voice of a friend.

But let’s not forget what may be the main point of Jesus’ parable: we are to make ourselves useful and of service to others. And to be of service to others we must see “clearly” — our heart pure and the eyes of our heart clean. Once we see clearly we can take out the “speck” that is in our brother’s or sister’s eye. 

Dear Elim Grace, let’s be honest: do we know we have a log in our eye? Is there someone we could ask? Is there someone we can trust to tell us? Our usefulness to others depends upon it.