Would you? Do You?

Would you expect to find only fit, buff, healthy people in a gym?

I hope not.

Do you expect to find only healthy people at a doctor's office?

Of course not.

Would you expect everyone in the grocery store to know how to cook?

Do you expect everyone in a sewing class to know how to sew?

Then why would we expect everyone who goes to church with us to be fit, buff and healthy spiritually? 

Why do we expect fellow believers to know how to overcome all temptations when we know that we, ourselves, struggle with sin daily, hourly!?

I think it's easy when we don't struggle in an area to wonder why someone else does?  It's easy look down on someone who is financially illiterate and we consider to be poor stewards of God's money just because we don't struggle in that area. 

It's easy to condemn someone who can't seem to get their house in order and it's always a mess just because we don't struggle in that area.

It's also easy, in our insecurity, to look at someone who appears to have a perfect marriage and, with jealously, find fault with them for something else.

Or to look at someone who can actually make it out of the house without looking frazzled and disheveled because her children are obedient and helpful, and, with jealousy, pick apart another area in her life.

We each live in our own little bubbles. We have no idea what others struggle with physically, spiritually or emotionally. 

I find the need often to remind myself to take the beam out of my own eye before I look at someone else with disdain for the speck in theirs.  I'm thankful God is doing a work in my life to help me understand that everyone of us is at a different point in our spiritual walks. 

Just as God has created each of us unique, He has a unique plan for each of us to know Him, trust Him, love Him.  I want to be a follower of Christ who is willing to pray for, understand and encourage those around me.  I don't want to be critical and tear others down.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV and ESV)