Is There a Plank In Your Eye?

Just a few days ago, I decided to use the audio feature on my bible app because my eyes had gotten heavy and I wanted to finish the last few chapters of Ezekiel. To my surprise, the feature made reading along so much easier. I started out about to fall asleep. I ended up starting on the book of Matthew and I've been reading along or just simply listening to the audio feature ever since.
I fell asleep last night and the audio feature just kept playing so I didn't stop it. As I was getting dressed for work, I listened to the bible. And there it was, I was preaching to myself! Matthew 7: 1-5 really got my attention. 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “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?4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. The words of Jesus are pretty clear. We can't judge issues of others when we are not dealing with our own. I started thinking about various scenarios in which this verse could be used. I'm sure you may be already thinking of some yourself or once you read these you'll be able to add to the list. 

• How can you tell me that my drinking is out of control when every time I pour up you pour up?
• Did you really just tell me I need to get in the gym and lose weight? Don't you weigh just as much as I do (or more)? When was the last time you were in the gym? 
• Go to church? You complain about your church constantly. How can you expect me to be excited about going somewhere you don't even like to go?
• Did you just tell me I need to spend more time studying than having fun when you are always rushing to get your homework done right before class starts?
• Every time I talk to you and your children are around, you're hollering at them and threatening to beat them, but you want me to be gentle with my kids.
• You call me a weed head but you bought the cigars when it was time to roll up. 
• How can you sit here and call me judgmental? You talk about people more than I do. 
• There is no relationship advice I could possibly take from you. You can't possibly be doing any of the things you're advising me to you because your relationship is in shambles.
• You can't judge me for going out to the club. You spend all your time at the casino!

All of these scenarios came to me to say this: If you feel like you need to go talk to someone about something you feel like they're doing wrong or you're concerned for their well-being, imagine that person's possible reactions when you try to remove their "sawdust". If you've got a "plank", you need to start working on you first. Your "plank" may just be the reason for their "sawdust" in the first place. 

The song "Sweep Around" by The Williams Brothers comes to mind. I hope you've enjoyed. Let's be careful to look for "planks" before we point out "sawdust"!