Where is your focus?

"And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I annointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;" 2 Samuel 12:5-7

Although we often miss it, God often shows us the fault in others so that we might see the fault in ourselves and repent. In the 12th chapter of 2 Samuel, God sends Nathan to David with a parable of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man in the parable wrongs the poor man by taking his only lamb and killing it, this clearly angers David. It is only then that Nathan reveals to David that he is the rich man. David had been in denial about his sin because he was not forced to confront it. God, because of His great love for David would not allow him to continue down the path of destruction. In order to help David see his sin clearly, he had to first demonstrate the severity of the sin in a manner David could clearly identify with. Remember David had been a shepherd, so he understood the value of sheep. It was a matter dear to his heart. Once God put it to David in a manner he could relate to, God then revealed to David his own sin. God still teaches in the same way today. Have you ever left a church because the pastor gossiped and told half truths about you? Have you ever stopped and considered your sin in this situation? What, you say you were the victim? Perhaps, but ask yourself this question: Was it the first time the pastor gossiped or told a half truth (a lie)? Were you present when he gossiped about others? Did you look at your neighbor on the church pew and laugh or shake your head? Guess what, you were a willing accomplice in his sin. You enjoyed the gossip as long as it wasn't about you. However, when it was your turn it was wrong. Don't misunderstand, God is not telling you to go back to that church, but he is telling you that there may be some things you need to clean up in your own life. Take the focus off of the other person and put it back where it belongs. Remember what Jesus said, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" Matthew 7:3