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"Why do you look for the speck of sawdust in
your brother's eye and fail to notice the plank in your
own? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the
speck out of your eye when you cannot see the plank in
your own? You fraud, take the plank out of your own eye
first and then you can see clearly enough to remove your
brother's speck." Luke 6: 41,42.
This is an example of the humour of Jesus when He described
a fellow with a plank of wood in his eye trying to take a
speck of dust from another's eye. Trivial and serious, for
He was speaking to those who condemned others when they were
worthy of greater condemnation of themselves for what they
said and did. We use the description still when we think of
the critic who should be much more critical of himself.
The life and teaching of Jesus about the fundamentals in
life have had a huge influence on humanity. His emphasis on
the treatment of people by people has encouraged us to show
the goodness of the human character in integrity, honesty,
sympathy and generosity. There is a recognised Christian obligation
and determination to care for people whoever, wherever and
whatever their needs. It accounts for the Christian response
for succour and support in the horrific circumstances in which
so very many find themselves. The pictures of utter distress
are so harrowing that to look at them is a shuddering experience,
with a mix of pity and the wish we could do something really
big to help them. When we make a response to their appeals
it is often the most we can do. Money and materials are needed
so is the presence of the many self sacrificing people who
go to them with their food, labour and professional skills.
The Christian voice and presence is always needed, as it
should be available, in everything that matters to people.
We live in a society where a larger than ever number of people
regardless of Christ and Christian values in their thinking
and doing, one which we believe suffers greatly from the diminished
knowledge of and interest in Christianity. The state and influence
or lack of it in many churches is testimony to that reality.
It is the fact that most people are not religiously motivated
in their lives, even though for centuries they have been encouraged
to better standards of thought and action by the character
and conduct, words and deeds of the godly among them. The
Christian qualities of humility, self denying service and
concern for others would make this a better place for all
of us. The plank and the speck of dust teach a lesson in humility.
One day Jesus met with some people who were well satisfied
with themselves. He told them a story of two men who went
to the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a publican. The Pharisee's
prayer was not of gratitude to God but about how well pleased
he was with himself. Contemptuously he spoke as being a better
man than the publican. He was different; and a lesser man
for the other recognised his need of God's help to be a really
good man.
There are the old sayings - the higher a man is in the knowledge
of God the lower he will be in self esteem; they that know
God will be humbled they that know themselves can not be proud.
Rita Snowden tells of American music students touring in
Germany being shown the piano on which Beethoven had composed
his "Moonlight Sonata" one girl ran forward and
played the piano. When the guide told her that Paderewski
had been a visitor a few days before and she suggested that
he would have done as she had done it was to be told, "Oh,
no, he said he was not worthy." Not to recognise our
weaknesses is a danger to ourselves and others. We must not
be a bad influence on them. Saul Kane the ill kept layabout
of John Masefield's poem, "The Everlasting Mercy"
stops to comfort a crying child when the mother quickly snatches
her away for fear of him.
Kane terribly hurt said:
"Summat she was and looked and said,
Went home and made me hang my head.
I slunk away into the night
Knowing deep down that she was right,
For that old mother made me see
The harm I done by being me."
Jesus constantly reminds us that we can be of usefulness
to Him when we recognise our faults and remedy them. There
is an indictment on Christians too,
"There is any number of people who claim the right to be
extremely vocal in criticism, and extremely exempt in action."
There is little gain in using another person for our standards
of character and conduct. There is great gain in faith in
Christ who shows us how to live and helps us to live in His
way.
The characteristics of Jesus are "love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, fidelity, tolerance and self
control." Gal 5:22,23.
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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