A MILE IN THEIR MOCCASINS

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

 

A MILE IN THEIR MOCCASINS

 

Matt 7:1-5

7 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 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?

5 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.

 

          It is not clear who first said, “Do not judge a man until you have first walked a mile in their moccasins.” The saying needs little comment and is generally understood that we seldom know the difficulties that others are going through. Some latitude is needed as we view the struggles of those we consider failures.

 

          Becoming a Pharisee is so easy! When we become comfortable with our brand of Christianity it is so easy to yield to the temptation to judge others who don’t measure up. Almost always that kind of judgment is done without regard to the peculiar circumstances and hindrances of the one being judged. To say all that in fewer words, we simply are not empathetic to the pain of others.

 

          Certainly, Jesus was not suggesting that we tolerate wrong thinking or wrongdoing in others. Both the judge and the one being judged had something in their eye. Neither could see clearly, and both were suffering pain. Neither was in a position to see clearly enough to evaluate the needs or ills of the other.

 

Phil 2:3-5

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

Merciful Father, let me be a little meeker with a brother who is weaker. Let me think a little more of others and a little less of me. AMEN