Keeping up appearances

November 14, 2006

By Greg Ebie

Susie has had a real problem with my appearance lately. It seems some of my eyebrow hair is becoming wild and unruly, growing long and wiry. Susie plucks these rebels, but they keep growing back. I very seldom even notice my eyebrows, let alone try to make sure every hair is in place and remove the wild ones.

How do you see yourself when you aren’t standing in front of a mirror? In my mind’s eye I have every hair in place (including my eyebrows), my face is freshly shaven (even when it’s not), and my face is clean (no mustard to be washed off).

Have you ever been surprised by the face staring back at you in the mirror? I have. I’ve found myself looking sleepier than I felt; I’ve noticed the need for a shave and a haircut. Yes, I’ve even found dirt in places I thought were clean. At such times I’m thankful Susie notices my face and cares how I look.

We can be quick to see faults in others’ appearance. We may snicker to ourselves, but how often are we willing to let someone know how they really look?

While we may keep quiet about a stranger’s appearance, Jesus knew we had a hard time keeping quiet about how others acted. We can be quick to pass judgment on others.

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”

(Luke 6:41,42, The Message)

Notice Jesus doesn’t tell us not to offer to wash the dirt off someone’s face. He just wants us to be sure our face is clean first. Let’s be sure we have cleaned up our act and then we will be ready to offer help to others.

D. Greg Ebie is senior pastor of Praise Assembly of God in Garrettsville, Ohio, and an author of Daily Bread devotionals.