Musing – Why Should We Seek to See the Good in Everyone?

Hebraic Musing – Why Should We Seek to See the Good in Everyone?

The world is a big place, over 300-million square miles of oceans and continents.  Not only is the world a large place, it is complex and filled with different species, plant life, and tiny organisms.  And there are a multitude of cultures, languages, political systems, and ideologies.  Thousands of years of history have contributed to the world we know today.  Therefore, can any one person, living in one particular time and place for only a relatively few years really understand the workings of the world?  Are we fit to judge anyone, discerning and understanding the reasons for their behavior(s)?

The answer in Ecclesiastes 8:17 could be paraphrased “No way!”    “No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.” NIV    We are not in a position to truly and fully understand our world with our very limited knowledge; so we are not really fully equipped to make clear judgments.

Some Jewish sages teach that in a similar way every individual is a world unto himself.  We each have unique characteristics and personality traits, strengths and weaknesses, beliefs, dreams, backgrounds and fears.  Furthermore, each of us has a unique experiential history that has made us who we are today. 

So is anyone really qualified to judge the behavior of another person?  Can any of us at any given time and place possibly possess enough knowledge about another person to make an accurate assessment?  The answer, of course, is no.  Just as we lack knowledge of our world, we can never fully comprehend another individual.  

We are definitely unqualified to judge whether they are condemned to hell, or not.  However, while we need to be careful judging anyone else’s behavior, we can choose what we see.  We can focus on the negative, or we can focus on the good. 

Moses had to make that choice on Mount Nebo as he looked westward and surveyed all the land beyond the Jordan river.  He asked God “Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan…” Deut. 3:25 NIV   The sages ask:  Why did Moses say he wanted to see the land?  Surely if he went into it, he would automatically see it.  They explain that Moses wasn’t simply asking to visit the land – he was asking to see the good in the land.  There is good and bad in everything, and we all have to constantly pray to see the good — in our world, in our lives, and in the people around us.

I am reminded of a highly respected and successful chief executive I worked for years ago.  He had the exceptional ability to place people in positions which utilized their unique and strongest attributes.  He and the organization were highly successful.  He focused on identifying and building on a person’s strengths.

Let that be our prayer today —that we will see the good in everyone we meet.  Consider the words from an ancient Jewish prayer that is said to be on the wall of Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem: “May it be Your will, God, that I not find faults in anyone.  Through Your mercy, may I always merit to judge others favorably; may You bestow upon me the intelligence to understand how to search for and find redeeming factors, strengths, and virtues, in my fellow man, at all times.” Amen

Points to ponder

Why do we find it too easy to criticize, or think critically?

Why is “catch them doing good” called “positive parenting”?

How do you feel when people acknowledge the good in you?
And then, why do we feel unworthy when told how good we are?

How will seeing good in others help us evangelize the world?

♫  Good Christian Men, Rejoice with heart and soul and voice….♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                  November 6, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Excerpted and annotated for clarification from “See the Good in Everyone” by IFCJ of Aug.31, 2018