How to Remove the Boulder From Your Own Eye

Someone may eavesdrop on a conversation in which you are judging others.

Removing a boulder from your own eye refers to Matthew 7:3 in the Bible, where Jesus is speaking about how a person shouldn't ask another to remove a speck of dust from his eye when the individual has a plank -- or boulder -- in his own. This Scripture discusses the evils of judging other people without examining your own qualities first and working on them. No matter what your opinion is of someone else, often he has an even worse opinion of you, particularly if you are judging his actions and talking about it with others.

Instructions

1. Stop yourself from passing judgment on another person. If someone rudely cuts you off in traffic and mouths obscenities, consider possibilities that perhaps he just got fired from his job or he may be rushing to an emergency room where a beloved relative is near death. Many people rush to judge others because they are an object of ridicule, they frequently make bad decisions or their life seems to be a mess. Keep in mind that you cannot possibly know the events that led to this stage of their life and therefore, you are in no position to judge them.

2. Look at people who judge others harshly. More than likely, they receive the same type of judgment when others speak about them. Once you realize that you will be treated in the same manner that you treat others, the temptation to ponder and be critical of others will diminish.

3. Listen to your thought patterns and practice thinking about what you are going to say before the words leave your mouth. If the words are of a critical or judgmental nature, rephrase your thoughts before speaking them. Soon this will become a virtuous habit.

4. Refuse to participate in conversations that focus on judging another individual. If you cannot redirect the conversation to a more positive tone, leave the area or change the subject.

5. Look at your actions, thoughts, words and deeds. If you are not perfect -- and no one is -- you have no business judging others.

6. Invest time in yourself. Strive to be the best person you can be and work on the areas that need improvement. When you take the time to do this, you will be too busy working on your own negative qualities to worry about someone else's.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider putting yourself in someone else's shoes when you hear others disparaging the person. If you were that person and you overheard the conversation, ask yourself how you would feel? A sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, sadness or feelings of guilt indicate the conversation is not taking a wise direction.

References

• Bible Gateway.com: Matthew 7 (New International Version) Matthew 7
• CBN.com; Judging Others; J. Stephen Lang