Mote Pickers, aka Splinter Pickers, aka Blind Fools

Let’s talk about splinter pickers. We have all known them. Those people who just cannot seem to help themselves. They feel compelled to point out every flaw, every mistake, every sin that their fellow man, their Christian brother or sister, commits. We have all made the mistake of judging someone else; whether they deserved the judgment doesn’t really matter. The Bible points out the splinter picker’s own imperfections and encourages us to change ourselves rather than trying to change others.

“Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” ~Matthew 7:3-5

What a poignant and convicting piece of Scripture. It has me asking myself some difficult questions. Am I a splinter picker? Am I blissfully unaware of my own shortcomings, rendering myself a blind fool? From the previous Scripture, I recognize that I should stop extracting my “brother’s mote” while focusing more on removing my own “beam”. I am convicted, and yet my warring spirit has me asking what if I am right and they really are wrong?

In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives a great tip for refocusing our minds when confronted with negative thoughts, feelings, or perceptions of others. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

So what about you? Are you a splinter picker? If so, what is your best tip for refocusing your negative attitude into a more optimistic mindset?