Sin is spiritual dandruff. This probably sounds crazy but let me explain. Dandruff is a fairly common and well known condition. It is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp, characterized by white flakes of skin in the hair or on the shoulders. You have probably seen someone with dandruff. If you’re like me, when you see flakes of dandruff on someone the first thing you do is look at your shoulder and scratch your head to make sure that you don’t have dandruff also. We recognize this condition in others, then check ourselves to see if we have it too. Once we realize we don’t have dandruff we go on with our life and may not think about it until the next time we notice it. However, if you find that you do have dandruff then you are probably going to go out and buy dandruff shampoo to treat and get rid of it. Once it is gone you stop thinking about it. But.. what about that person that you noticed with dandruff? What if they don’t even know they have dandruff? Should you tell them they have dandruff? It may be an awkward conversation to have with someone, but in the end they might be grateful.
Often times we follow this same cycle when it comes to sin. We notice a certain sin in the life of someone around us and we examine our own life to see if we too have this sin within us. If we don’t, we often tend to build a sense of pride and feel better about ourself. If we do notice that sin within ourself, we might begin searching for ways to get rid of it and repent from it. After that, we feel good and go on with our life. But.. what about that brother or sister that you noticed the sin in? What if they are unaware of it? Should you point it out to them? Again, it may be an awkward conversation, but in the end they might be grateful.
Matthew 7: 3-5 says this: “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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
When the speck is noticed in a brother’s eye we must first examine our own eye for a plank. Once we have our own life aligned, we should help our brother or sister remove his speck. We should not leave our brother out to hang and dry. God put us on this earth together and wants us to help each other. Don’t let your brother live with a speck in his eye, for if it wasn’t for that speck you may have never noticed the plank in your own eye. Approach this brother or sister in a kind and loving way and help them remove their speck. Do not be judgmental and prideful but be loving and understanding.
