I know a college professor with an earned Ph.D. By any measure earning a doctorate is quite an achievement requiring hard work, perseverance, and personal sacrifice. I know because I have an earned Ed.D.

My professor friend and I attended a meeting with some government officials and were asked to sign an attendance sheet. When the document came to me I noticed that the professor had signed her name followed by the initials Ph.D.

As I shook my head in disgust I thought, “Only an arrogant, egotistical person signs a document flaunting her academic credentials.” Talk about showing off in front of others! I made sure to sign my name without including after my name the letters Ed.D.

Years later a friend shared with me a biblical principle based on Luke 6:41. “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?” He called it the “you spot it … you got it” principle.

When you see a flaw in others, you often fail to see the same flaw in yourself. Your recognition of their flaw reminds you of an attitude or behavior you don’t like about yourself. Moreover, that person’s flaw typically is minor- like sawdust - compared to the major flaw – the plank - in your own life.

I wasn’t really irritated by my professor friend bragging about having a doctorate degree. I was irritated about my own need to have others recognize my accomplishments. Deep down I want others to believe that I’m just a little bit smarter than they are. Consequently, my self-esteem increases at their expense. After all, not everyone is legitimately able to put initials after their names and have others call them “Doctor.” Therefore, in my distorted thinking, I must be someone really special. Hardly!

It reminds me of my own children’s behavior when they were preschoolers. Sometimes they would do something like a perform a cartwheel and say, “Look at me! Look at me!” My behavior is merely the adult version of this ego booster.

The underlying cause of my irritation has nothing to do with my professor friend at all. My frustration is really about myself and my frequent need to be affirmed by others. It’s deeply rooted in my own sinful pride and is definitely not one of my most attractive qualities.

What about you? What do you spot in others that actually has to do with you? What triggers you to make judgments about others that is actually a self-judgment?

We are all sinners – self-centered to our very core. Often we’re blind to our own shortcomings, but judgmental about the weaknesses of others. We fail to understand that our irritation is directed at the wrong person.

As Christ-followers we’ve been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Comparing ourselves with others – or with ourselves - is pointless because we all fall short of God’s standard of perfection. Comparisons are only valid when we measure ourselves by the character and conduct of Jesus Christ.

It’s far better to notice the positive qualities we see in others – and tell them what we see. Moreover, how much more gratifying when others see Christ in us.

© 2012 Designed to Serve®