1 Corinthians 4:4 - Expert Speck Removal

Jesus said, 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Matthew 7:3-5, New Living Translation, 2015)

Unfortunately, some people become Expert Speck Removalists. Having dutifully removed the log in their eye, they assume authority to deal with each and every speck they find in others' eyes. As if being hard on themselves justifies being hard on others.

Yes, we are to help each other in our common, human weakness. But Expert Speck Removalists have overlooked a new log in their eye: judgmentalism.

Judmentalism assumes the role of being the ultimate judge, a responsibility only God can handle.

Paul realized the cure for this:
"My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide." 1 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)

And as James said,
"Look—the Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:9, NLT)

Even when we think we've removed all the gunk and "logs" in our eyes, we still need to pray:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you [any 'way of pain,'] and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23–24 (NLT, NASB)