The Speck & The Plank
“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.”
Focusing on the Speck is Procrastination and Avoidance
As I sit and reflect, I find within myself a peculiar impulse: the desire to fix others. I love to dispense advice - how to lose weight, repair relationships, build wealth, or bring about world peace. My words flow easily, my thoughts sharp, as though I possess all the answers. Yet, in truth, this inclination is not born of wisdom but of folly. For in my eagerness to fix others, I often ignore the most important task of all - fixing myself.
Man’s nature is curious. He sees the world’s imperfections as projects to mend, yet he turns a blind eye to the chaos within. As Aristotle reflected, “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” Epictetus reminds us, “No man is free who is not master of himself.” And here lies the heart of the matter: mastery over oneself is the greatest, most painful of victories - and the one we are most eager to avoid.
What is this tendency but a form of procrastination? To focus on the faults of others is far easier than to confront the deep, uncomfortable work of self-examination.
Dealing with the Plank & Seeing Clearly
In the latter part of Matthew 7:3-5, Christ speaks of removing the plank from our own eye so we can see clearly to help remove the speck from our brother's eye. This simple yet profound teaching confronts a tendency we all share - the habit of scrutinizing others while ignoring our own shortcomings.
Dealing with our own faults - our flaws, blind spots, and weaknesses - is neither pleasant nor easy, but it is vital. It does a humbling work within us, stripping away pride and self-righteousness. More importantly, it is the fast track to progress and self-improvement. If we are constantly focused on others, we remain blind to the very flaws that are holding us back - flaws that may be poisoning our relationships, finances, health, and countless other areas of our lives.
Self-Reflection Questions
Ask yourself: Do I have this tendency? Do I focus on others to avoid confronting my own shortcomings?
Reflect deeply: What am I avoiding? What areas of my life - relationships, habits, finances, or health - do I refuse to confront?
Finally, ask: What would my life look like if I did the hard work of addressing these things?
Suggested Action
This week, take a moment to pause. Write down one area in your life where you need growth or improvement - something you have avoided. Tomorrow, take one small, deliberate step toward addressing it.
For true clarity lies in the hard work of removing our own planks first. Let us seek to see clearly, for in doing so, we position ourselves to grow, to improve, and to become the best version of ourselves.
Legacy Impact
When it comes to building a legacy and passing down our best qualities to our children, it is vital that we deal with the issues plaguing us. Don’t we want to be the best version of ourselves for them?
In light of the responsibility we carry as fathers, I implore you to take this work seriously and with great intention. Because they are watching — and what we do today shapes not only their lives but the generations that follow. Let us give them a legacy of strength, humility, and wisdom, not one marred by the faults perhaps passed down to us that we refuse to confront.
