Annoyed? The solution starts with you

Imagine listening to a story filled with injustice. As you listen, you think of the person should be punished and how you would have responded differently. But then, at the end, the storyteller says, “I was talking about you!”

That’s what happens to David in 2 Samuel 12:7. Nathan tells David the story of a rich, powerful man who stole a poor man’s prized lamb. David is outraged at the rich man’s actions then Nathan says to David, “You are the man!”

The news had to be a gut punch to David.

David had become so insensitive to his own sin, he didn’t recognize he was the villain of the story. It is much easier to point out sin in the lives of others than it is to see the speck in our own eye. Like David, we might discover that in condemning others, we've been condemning ourselves.

In Matthew 7:5, Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” As group leaders, the qualities we condemn in others are often our own character flaws. 

One of the best things we can do before pointing out someone else’s sin is to ask God to help us understand their feelings and see our own flaws more clearly. As we identify and repent of the sin in our own lives, we are better equipped to lead others to repentance as well. 

We begin to approach others with a discerning heart rather than a judgmental one. A discerning heart sees someone stuck in sin and shows them a better way. A judgmental heart sees someone stuck in sin and says, “I would never do that.”

Sometimes, we think good leaders have to be perfect. But God isn’t looking for perfect; He’s looking for repentant. Because when we repent of our own sin, we have the empathy to help others experience real change. 

Reflect:

• What is an area of your life where you need repentance?
• What can you do today to better understand the feelings of those around you?