Whenever tempers flare and folks starting hurling insults and judgments at one another, my aunt likes to say, “When you point the finger at someone, remember that three fingers are pointing back at you.”
Her point puts a pause if not a period to most arguments.
The sage advice she so eloquently shares is actually a credit to the Navajo people. They are said to consider pointing the finger at someone as an overly emotional and unjustified reaction.
If there is a further lesson to learn from the Navajos, we humans (in every shade and class) should first look within before (if ever) pointing out the faults of others.
The Scripture puts it this way:
“Refuse to be a critic full of bias toward others, and judgment[a] will not be passed on you. 2 For you’ll be judged by the same standard that you’ve used to judge others. The measurement you use on them will be used on you.[b] 3 Why would you focus on the flaw in someone else’s life and yet fail to notice the glaring flaws of your own?[c] 4 How could you say to your friend, ‘Let me show you where you’re wrong,’ when you’re guilty of even more? 5 You’re being hypercritical and a hypocrite! First acknowledge your own ‘blind spots’ and deal with them, and then you’ll be capable of dealing with the ‘blind spot’ of your friend.[d] Matthew 7: 1-5 The Passion Translation
Paraphrased in the Message Bible, the same Scripture reads:
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
My humble suggestion is that we train ourselves to do less of this (below)
And more of this ☝🏾.
Point up and allow God to be our judge and to show us our frailties so we can be better followers of Him.
May you forever stay focused on your purpose. Really, Leah.
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