It is well to be continually reminded of those striking words in Luke, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven," and so be ever on guard to keep criticism, malice, envy, jealousy from thrusting between our neighbors and ourselves. If we are fairly successful in this fight, are we not inclined to feel that we have obeyed orders, that we are good Christian soldiers and ready for promotion to higher commands, or at least worthy, "having done all, to stand"?
But have we done all that is required of us in our attitude toward mankind? Jesus' admonition was, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Do we take care always to love the true self? Many will find this a much harder battle than simply forgiving one's enemies and being charitable to one's friends. Indeed self-condemnation is a temptation into which most of us fall if we are not constantly on the alert. It is the opposite of self-forgiveness and self-forgetfulness. It is selfishness and egotism; a moral slovenliness that would lure one into putting one's own neck under a yoke that one would struggle valiantly to lift from another; a sense of self-depreciation that would permit others, perhaps children or even animals, to trample roughshod over one's own rights, to their own hurt. Being kind to others and cruel to one's self is scarcely more Christian than reversing the process.
If you cannot see yourself as the son of God you will not be in a position to see others in their true light. In underestimating your own worth you are shackling your brother man; in limiting your own capabilities you are attempting to limit God and the infinite scope of His handiwork. In plain words, you have no more right or liberty to abuse or mistrust yourself than you have your next door neighbor, and until you honor and glorify your true self, you will never be truly just to your friends. How well Shakespeare expresses this thought through the familiar words of Polonius:—
