Video Ministries

The Only True Standard of Character

Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye? Matt. 7:3.

Even the sentence, "Thou that judgest does the same things," does not reach
the magnitude of his sin who presumes to criticize and condemn his brother.
Jesus said, "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" }

His words describe one who is swift to discern a defect in others. When he
thinks he has detected a flaw in the character of the life he is exceedingly
zealous in trying to point it out; but Jesus declares that the very trait of
character developed in doing this un-Christlike work is, in comparison with
the fault criticized, as a beam in proportion to a mote. It is one's own
lack of the spirit of forbearance and love that leads him to make a world of
an atom. Those who have never experienced the contrition of an entire
surrender to Christ do not in their life make manifest the softening
influence of the Saviour's love. They misrepresent the gentle, courteous
spirit of the gospel and wound precious souls, for whom Christ died. . . .

Christ is the only true standard of character, and he who sets himself up as
a standard for others is putting himself in the place of Christ. And since
the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son" whoever presumes to
judge the motives of others is again usurping the prerogative of the Son of
God. These would-be judges and critics are placing themselves on the side of
antichrist, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,
or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,
shewing himself that he is God."

The sin that leads to the most unhappy results is the cold, critical,
unforgiving spirit that characterizes Pharisaism. When the religious
experience is devoid of love, Jesus is not there; the sunshine of His
presence is not there. . . . There may be a wonderful keenness of perception
to discover the defects of others; but to everyone who indulges this spirit,
Jesus says, "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye"
(Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 125, 126).

Not until you feel that you could sacrifice your own self-dignity, and even
lay down your life in order to save an erring brother, have you cast the
beam out of your own eye so that you are prepared to help your brother. Then
you can approach him and touch his heart. . . . A tender spirit, a gentle,
winning deportment, may save the erring and hide a multitude of sins. The
revelation of Christ in your own character will have a transforming power
upon all with whom you come in contact. Let Christ be daily made manifest in
you, and He will reveal through you the creative energy of His word--a
gentle, persuasive, yet mighty influence to re-create other souls in the
beauty of the Lord our God (ibid., pp. 128, 129).

>From Lift Him Up - Page 336

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