A Joke

Sometimes a joke can make a point better than an argument. Take this one:

The story makes us laugh, but it also reflects on who I am. How many times have I acted like the husband, thinking a problem was someone else’ fault, when really it was I who was to blame! Or maybe I will admit to being only a part of a problem. And if others agree with my point of view, I am even more assured of being right. But by doing this, I deceive myself. At least the husband had a questioning spirit. He took steps to find out the truth about the perceived problem. The joke points out my need to remember lessons learned from stories in my early school days, like The Blind Men and the Elephant and Three Men Make a Tiger.

A Skewed Picture

This leads me to another thought. When we are in the audience watching a movie, we often feel sorry for characters who are not aware of an entire situation, and therefore do not know the truth. But in real life, we are often just like those characters in a movie. We may not see the whole situation because of the particular position we are in, or we may already have a picture in our minds of what the outcome should be. Sometimes our own personality may stand in the way. These factors are enough to disqualify any of us from judging others.

Judging others is easy and often very hurtful. The Bible wisely teaches us not to judge others. It lovingly warns us not to do what is beyond our ability. Proverbs 17:28 tells us, Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

So, we who are born with "poor hearing"—as the husband in the joke portrays—can improve our own physical and spiritual health by not being in a hurry to deal with others' “deafness.”

As I thought about this, I had a horrible feeling. Consider that from childhood through adolescence and on to old age, we have passed through others' lives or traveled across others' worlds. How many people might we have judged unfairly? If we are towing behind us a huge number of invisible people whom we have judged, what a shame that is and how sad!

Our lives are not meant to be like this! God wants us to have peace of mind. He invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him, and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). He wants us to forgive others as we have been forgiven, so that we can cast aside our baggage and enjoy life. God wants us to be free. The person who is set free by Him and His promises is free indeed (John 8:36)!

Having a judgmental spirit is destructive, like a double-edged knife—only good for hurting! It is also like a tangled ball of string entangling both the one who is doing the judging and the one who is being judged. It hurts both parties, and onlookers can only shudder! Without faith that is deeply rooted in love, the monster of judging will not disappear. Instead, it will grow stronger and larger, bearing the evil fruits of bitterness, hatred, self-pity, and self-righteousness.

Knowing that we are simply actors on the stage of life, we will suspend critical judgment of the other players, while humbly seeking help from the Author of the Universe, Who knows everything. 1 Corinthians 3:18 says, Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become "fools" so that you may become wise.

As "wise fools," we can enjoy the blessings that only "fools" are given. As wise husbands, we realize that our wives have good “hearing,” and we are thankful they don’t complain about our “deafness.”

*This article was originally published in Chinese by Overseas Campus Magazine and later translated into English and edited by Carol Tang.

Wenping Li considers herself a traveler—that life is a journey of the body, heart, and spirit—and that the journey is also the destination.