Plank-eye!

Charles Spurgeon, et al.

(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the plank in your own eye?"

Few sins are as subtle yet as destructive, as judging the motives of others. Unlike actions, which can be seen and weighed, motives belong to the secret chambers of the heart--territory reserved for God alone. When we presume to know why someone acts in a certain way, we trespass into God's jurisdiction. We are usurping the throne of God, who alone can infallibly search hearts and minds and motives. "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (James 4:12)

Paul reminds us that the Lord will one day reveal the secret motives of every heart. "Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the motives of men's hearts." (1 Corinthians 4:5) Until then, our call is to love--to assume the best, to cover in love, to entrust hidden things to God. The humble heart says, "I am not God, so I dare not judge the secret motives of others."

Scripture masterfully summarizes the antidote: "Love…
  bears all things,
  believes all things,
  hopes all things,
  endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Love gives the benefit of the doubt; it presumes sincerity until clearly proven otherwise. A heart ruled by Christ, errs on the side of grace.

Lord, forgive me for the arrogance of assuming that I know the hidden motives of others. Teach me to walk in humility and love. Guard…
  my mind from judging the motives of others,
  my tongue from slander,
  and my heart from pride.
May I be found faithful in judging my own sin, while leaving the secrets of others to Your perfect wisdom.

 

Charles Spurgeon quotes on judging others:

"You may think you can read hearts, but you cannot. The Lord alone looks upon the heart; we must not attempt to play the role of the unerring Heart Searcher."

"We have enough to do to judge our own motives; let us not become inquisitors over the secret springs of other men's actions."

"If a man must judge, let him judge himself most severely, and his brother most tenderly."

"To impute evil motives, is easy work for those of little grace."

"Love always supposes the best, till the worst is proved."

"Christ never gave us a commission to judge the motives of others; He bade us to love one another."

"Beware of thinking harshly of Christians because they differ from you in certain ways. The grace of God may dwell where you least expect it."

"It is astonishing how much we resemble the Pharisees, when we presume to see the secret faults of others."