It’s Not the Mote in Your Eye—It’s the Beam in Mine

If you’ve ever asked, “How is that person married when I’m single?” or “I know that person is great, but they aren’t as righteous as I am,” then you probably need to take a moment to reflect.

In the talk “Lord Is It I?” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf discusses the Last Supper, held on the eve of Christ’s arrest. When the disciples are told that one of them will betray Christ, they don’t look around to blame each other. Instead, they ask, “Lord, is it I?” (Matthew 26:22).

Unlike Christ’s disciples in this passage, we often justify our actions by telling ourselves that there are others who are worse. For example, have the following thoughts ever crossed your mind?

“Why can’t I slack off a little at work? That other guy is always watching YouTube on his phone.”

“Why do I need to minister?  No one has ministered to me these past few months.”

We can sometimes be blinded to our weaknesses, confident that we’re ahead of the pack. In doing so, we miss out on the chance to improve. President Uchtdorf references a study in which a Cornell University professor found that people who were the least skilled at tasks often thought that they performed the best. President Uchtdorf says, “When we start believing that our contributions at home, at work, and at church are greater than they actually are, we blind ourselves to blessings and opportunities to improve ourselves in significant and profound ways.”

We can learn from the example of Christ’s disciples and start asking ourselves, “Lord, is it I?” This mentality will give us opportunities for growth and a greater appreciation for the skills and talents of those around us.

For more ideas on how to focus on improving ourselves—and not on judging others—read more President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk: “Lord, Is it I?”

—Kamber Alldredge, Mormon Insights

feature image by vince fleming

Find more insights

Read Brad Elders’s article “Do I Have to?” to learn more about submitting to the Lord’s will.

Read Amy Davis’s article “Judging Others—Just Stop It” to learn more about the reasons we shouldn’t judge others.