Oil of Olay

“It is the easiest thing in the world to give high marks when grading your own paper.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

When I was in 11th grade, I took a Humanities class as an elective. My teacher’s name was Stan Kotzen and he was a rather unorthodox instructor. For instance, instead of lecturing hour after hour, he engaged us in discussions about a wide range of subjects.

At the end of the semester, Mr. Kotzen handed each student a piece of paper and told us to write down the grade we thought we deserved. Not wanting to appear arrogant, I wrote “A-minus” on the slip and handed it back.

Well, guess what my grade was for Humanities 101? That’s right… I got an “A-minus!” I still wonder to this day what grade I would have received if I had written “A-plus.”

The point that Charles Spurgeon is making in today’s quote is that, far too often, we tend to view ourselves through rose-colored glasses. We become experts at excusing – or at least rationalizing – our behavior while simultaneously criticizing others for acting in a similar fashion.

“Did you hear about the pastor who had an affair with the church secretary?’ we whisper to a friend, seconds before our head is turned by a young pretty lady ourselves. “And what about so-and-so, who got caught stealing from the offering plate?” we ask, forgetting that we weren’t exactly honest on our tax return this year.

Looking into the mirror of God’s Word has a way of revealing every last one of our imperfections. Oil of Olay may be good at covering up wrinkles, but the Holy Spirit can – and will – point out our spiritual blemishes.

Better to “grade on a curve” when it comes to others and to ask your Teacher for some leniency yourself.

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:15, 24-25a (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President