“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
The soldier was upset, and he felt he had a right to be. Somebody in the family had left the door to the backyard wide open. The A/C had been working overtime needlessly for hours to keep the house cool on this 92 degree summer day. What a waste of energy and money! After a painful 30-minute interrogation of his wife and kids, the truth had come out. The husband was the culprit!
Sound familiar? It is for most of us. Conflict is a reality in marriage and family. It simply is. Try as we may, friction will occur. Can arguments be avoided in the first place? Yes, many can. Others may not be prevented, but they can be lowered a notch so that a total blowout is avoided.
How? This verse gives us “Step 1.” The Lord is telling us to look first at ourselves before judging someone else, particularly our spouse or one of our children. Give it a try. You’ll see progress!
