Have you ever heard this as a kid or said it as a dad: “You’ll never amount to anything…Why can’t you be more like your brother…When will you grow up?” Criticism is inevitable, but how do you handle it wisely—so you don’t spew it out to those around you? Let’s look at Matthew 7:3-5 for guidance as a husband, dad, and believer. Matthew 7:3-5 says, Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Before judging others, we must first practice humility and self-reflection, so you can avoid hypocrisy. Reminder: Jesus was teaching the Pharisees—the people who thought they were superior to others—yet didn’t live up to their own standards. Before pointing out others’ sins, deal with your own. Criticizing sin can be done with humility, but without self-reflection, you’ll be prone to hypocrisy. When you point out sin, you can point someone to God or yourself—you can’t point to both. As a husband and dad, approach sin you notice in others with humility. Guard against knee-jerk reactions to your wife or kid. Instead, be quick to reflect on your actions first. Your children will learn from your example.
