How should I keep from focusing on others’ faults?

Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

Proverbs 27:6Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Matthew 7:1-5“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Matthew 18:15“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”

Galatians 6:5We are each responsible for our own conduct.

James 4:11-12Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

James 5:9Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:19-20My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

We must deal with our own faults and let God be the judge of others. We should see ourselves as God sees us and be humbled. At times, of course, we must point out the faults of others but our focus should not be judgmental. Instead, it should be done with love and for a corrective purpose.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.

Galatians 6:1If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

Ephesians 4:2-4Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

1 Peter 4:8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

When dealing with the faults of others, our focus must be to help and encourage them, not hurt them. We must always be humble, gentle, patient, and forgiving with others.