THURSDAY: THE MEASURING SPOON

Dec 1, 2022
2 min read

Lord, I’m judgmental about many things. I create my own rules, and then I judge others for not following them. Please wash my heart, so I lead others to follow You and not me.

Matthew 7:1-6

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way, you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“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? 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? 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.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

If I use a measuring spoon to heap coals on those who do not act like I think they should, then I can expect to be covered in coal myself when I am impatient, irritable, and judgmental. It’s very easy for me to spot other people’s sins; it’s harder to receive criticism for my own sins.

If I go around pointing out the sins of others rather than concentrating on my own, I will find myself “stuck” in life. Nothing will be good enough for me. I will demand my standards rule, and no one will meet my standards perfectly.

I will continue to live in a rut until I start listening to what God has been telling me all along: This life is not about me, and if I make it about me, then I will not achieve the things God wants to achieve in my life.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Listening to God should be a priority in my life. If it isn’t, I could possibly spend the rest of my life making up rules I’d like other people to follow. These rules might be important to me, but they are leading others to my standard, not to God’s standard.

Instead of imposing my rules (and imposing my judgement for not following them) on others, I should be continually reviewing God’s rules and showing others how God wants us all to live. These Sacred Teachings will not be understood by everyone. I need to learn how to feed them to my listeners a little at a time to determine if they are willing to hear; if not, I could be tossing pearls to those who will only trample them rather than value them.

Lord, help me understand Your way, so I can show it to others who are willing to listen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman