God's Word reveals Him to man but also provides insight to people to know themselves. In the light of God's glory and majesty man's fallen nature is in stark contrast. As God's character is absolutely good and righteous, the depraved, fickle, hypocritical hearts and minds of men are stunningly consistent, even predictable. We are masters of exploitation, of manipulation, or angling to hide our flaws and benefit ourselves. That's the crazy thing about it: if we will be honest at some level (whether we want to admit it or not) this tendency is in us all. We can try to ignore or deny it, but it lies latent until it is stirred up.
It is easy to find fault or inconsistency in others, but Paul said in Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." This principle rings true to life, doesn't it? Everything we criticise in others we are guilty of exactly the same thing to some degree. Here's a personal example: I was always suspicious of people cheating in games because I was a cheater. It's like my concern of being cheated was heightened because I was naturally drawn to do the same. The thing that bothers you about others (the things you see as negative) are things you do too--like lying, being hypocritical, gossiping, laziness, and on.
There is a great example in the Bible I read the other night. Korah and hundreds of displeased dissidents murmured against those God called to lead Israel and Numbers 16:3 says, "They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" The response of Moses was amazing as the man God chose to shepherd His people out of Egypt and to the promised land: he fell on his face before the LORD. He knew how he resisted and did not aspire to the role of leading when God appeared to him, yet angry and judgmental people gathered who accused him of honouring himself! Arguing with his accusers would only be seen as defensive, so what could he do but fall on the mercy of God?
Moses then told his accusers (who were all famous men of renown) to appear before the LORD the following day. He directed them in Numbers 16:6-7: "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; 7 put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!" Korah and his mob accused Moses of taking too much upon himself, yet Moses told them the exact opposite was true: their envy and ambition led them to take too much upon themselves! Their own sin was projected upon Moses. Now Moses had his faults to be sure, yet in this case this accusation was unfounded: their problem was God who called and ordained Moses! God confirmed this the next day when the earth swallowed up Korah and those loyal to him, and fire from God consumed those 250 men who burned incense.
When we are critical towards others it is a reminder for us to carefully examine ourselves, falling before God in humility and repentance. Through insight provided by the Holy Spirit we are able to remove the plank from our own eye so we can see clearly when others have a speck in their eye. We often make excuses for ourselves for our faults, but we are inexcusable before God. In His grace by the Gospel we have been more than "excused" because our sins have been atoned for by the blood of Jesus; we have been cleansed and the righteousness of God has been imputed to us. Knowing our natural tendencies revealed in God's Word provides insight so we can avoid pitfalls we have fallen into and lived in all our lives.
It is easy to find fault or inconsistency in others, but Paul said in Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." This principle rings true to life, doesn't it? Everything we criticise in others we are guilty of exactly the same thing to some degree. Here's a personal example: I was always suspicious of people cheating in games because I was a cheater. It's like my concern of being cheated was heightened because I was naturally drawn to do the same. The thing that bothers you about others (the things you see as negative) are things you do too--like lying, being hypocritical, gossiping, laziness, and on.
There is a great example in the Bible I read the other night. Korah and hundreds of displeased dissidents murmured against those God called to lead Israel and Numbers 16:3 says, "They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" The response of Moses was amazing as the man God chose to shepherd His people out of Egypt and to the promised land: he fell on his face before the LORD. He knew how he resisted and did not aspire to the role of leading when God appeared to him, yet angry and judgmental people gathered who accused him of honouring himself! Arguing with his accusers would only be seen as defensive, so what could he do but fall on the mercy of God?
Moses then told his accusers (who were all famous men of renown) to appear before the LORD the following day. He directed them in Numbers 16:6-7: "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; 7 put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!" Korah and his mob accused Moses of taking too much upon himself, yet Moses told them the exact opposite was true: their envy and ambition led them to take too much upon themselves! Their own sin was projected upon Moses. Now Moses had his faults to be sure, yet in this case this accusation was unfounded: their problem was God who called and ordained Moses! God confirmed this the next day when the earth swallowed up Korah and those loyal to him, and fire from God consumed those 250 men who burned incense.
When we are critical towards others it is a reminder for us to carefully examine ourselves, falling before God in humility and repentance. Through insight provided by the Holy Spirit we are able to remove the plank from our own eye so we can see clearly when others have a speck in their eye. We often make excuses for ourselves for our faults, but we are inexcusable before God. In His grace by the Gospel we have been more than "excused" because our sins have been atoned for by the blood of Jesus; we have been cleansed and the righteousness of God has been imputed to us. Knowing our natural tendencies revealed in God's Word provides insight so we can avoid pitfalls we have fallen into and lived in all our lives.
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