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
It doesn’t take the intelligence of a turnip to see the faults of the person sitting across the table, at the next desk, or in the pew across the aisle. No unique insight or spiritual gift is needed to pump up your own self-image by magnifying the flaws of others: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people …” (Lk. 18:11 NCV).
Judging others is misdirected and ineffective since your opinion has no power to change them. Better to use that insight on yourself, the only place it has reshaping power.
The important questions don’t take aim at others, but at self …
What kind of person am I?
How easy am I to live with?
How considerate?
How tolerant?
How loving?
We don’t like to be judged,
but we like to judge.