Criticism Falls where Criticism is Given

Criticism Falls Where Criticism is Given

"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." Matthew 7:1-2

Where does that dread of being criticized even come from? Why every time I invite people over to my house for dinner or something similar to that do I get knotted up inside as though my intestines were tangled up with my heart and lungs and I can hardly breathe? Why does, all of the sudden, every single imperfection of myself or my house become magnified even at the thought of having guests?
I went to a birthday party this weekend. As I pulled up I instantly sized up the house. I made a self note how, from the outside, it was not much bigger than mine. I rang the doorbell and walked in looking all around pinpointing the things I would do differently. I did take the time to compliment on the awesome dining room table. And immediately afterward I made another self note of how cluttered it was in the kitchen. As time went on and I had more time to inspect, I realized that much like my house, this house was covered in dust! The picture frames I picked up, in order to get a better glance, were layered in dust and there was memorabilia of 30 years plus everywhere. Instead of feeling some sort of camaraderie in that we both struggled to have things organized and cleaned because of our busy schedules, I became critical and judgmental.
Conviction fell over me like a blanket and as I sat at that beautiful dining room table I begged God to tell me why on earth I was behaving that way. Why was I being so evil when I too struggled with keeping my place clean? I asked for God to forgive me and vowed to be mindful of my thoughts. Almost instantly Rhonda begins to say to me, “I get so anxious in gatherings like this.” I, of course, asked “why?” She proceeded to tell me how she was embarrassed of her home. How small it was compared to her sister-in-law’s and how her sister-in-law had enough money to have “nice things” and a big enough house in which to put them. She continued by saying her house was full of dust and it was cluttered but that those were all things she had either bought or been given throughout her life. And as she continued to speak I heard her voice transforming into mine, saying the same things to someone who had recently been over to my house! I felt like lying my head down and crying right then and there. How could I have possibly judged her? All I was doing was judging and condemning myself!
Matthew 7:1-2 says it so plainly, “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.” God brought this verse to my mind. I learned that day that the dread of being criticized is born within me. I learned that because I judged and criticized others upon entering their homes, I expected people to do the same to me. What freedom I have when I give grace! When grace I give, grace I get! I purpose now to refrain from this cycle of judge and be judged. When a critical thought enters my mind, I renounce it. I praise God for loving me so much that he was faithful to show me the plank in my eye so that I may free my sisters from my criticism of the speck in theirs.