"I
Could See My Own Faults
If I Had Any!"
"Now when they saw some of His
disciples eat bread with ...unwashed hands, they found fault."
(Mark 7:2.) It is easy to fall into the rut of faultfinding. Think of the
following people:
Those that are looking: There
were people in Jesus' day and also in our day that are looking for faults in
others. In Luke 6:6-9 people tried to "find an accusation against
Him." There are those who are looking for faults. This does not rule out
constructive criticism. I, for one, need all the constructive, loving help I
can receive. But, there are those who make faultfinding and picking flaws a
daily way of life. Let us not allow ourselves to be among those who are
looking.
Those that are loving: Those
that are loving look for faith not faults. They look for sparks not specks in
people. They look for opportunities to help. Love rules out constant
faultfinding. (I Corinthians 13:4-8.) Love "covers a multitude of
sins." (I Peter 4:8.) Those that are loving make people better.
Those that are longing:
There are those who are longing to find the faults of others. They do this to direct
attention away from their own faults. They do this with a desire to cause
others to think more of them by thinking less of others. "A man is never
completely down until he is down on everything." May God help us not to be
among those who are longing to find the faults of others.
Those that are lacking:
Those who are faultfinders are self-appointed critics and judges. They will
find themselves lacking. They will lack friends and real purpose in life. If
you come to worship as a faultfinder you will leave lacking for you will miss
the real purpose of worship. (Acts 2:42.) "I don't like the sermon,
"I" don't like the singing," etc. is the result of a faultfinding
attitude! By being a constant faultfinder you provide an atmosphere where you
make people around you uncomfortable and you spoil the fun and enthusiasm of
the entire group.
The fault-finder says, "The
fault in others I can see but praise the Lord there's none in me."
By Charles Box,