Pointing The Finger

Every now and again I get a chance to watch one of the television court programs, and I am always amazed at the number of cases that are brought by family members against each other. Recently I saw one where the judge made the plaintiff and defendant - relatives - hug each other and make up right there in front of the television camera. It was a very moving scene.

The angry plaintiff accused the defendant of stealing her identity to pay her gas bill. In tears, the defendant explained that her financial situation was what caused her to do what she did in order to heat her apartment, but her relative kept on accusing her in a harsh manner. This prompted the judge to point out that the woman admitted she made a mistake and that none of us knows what we would do when we are in dire straits, as this woman was. Without condoning what the defendant did, the judge appealed to the plaintiff to be understanding. Of course, the defendant was still ordered to pay the damages.

Before we point the finger at others, we should first ask ourselves, what would I have done in that situation. Jesus taught many parables to illustrate this. On one occasion, He said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. "

Someone said, when you point your finger at someone, there are three more pointing back at you. Remember that.