Do Not Judge

"People make mistakes. When you judge them, you measure their weakness against your own strength. That's not a fair measure. They have their strengths, too. Their strength might be the weakest point in your life." - Nesta Jojoe Erskine, Unforgettable: Living a Life That Matters

I think it is safe to assume that all of us have been guilty of wrongly judging another person. It is very easy to see and believe the worst in people. Last Sunday at church, we were reminded to not become judgmental. Let me share with you the lessons I have gained. 

"Do not judge, so that you won't be judged. For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye', and look, there's a log in your eye? Hypocrite! First, take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." 
                                                                                     - Matthew 7: 1-5 (HCSB)

Matthew 7: 1-5 is not meant to be an excuse so others will not rebuke and correct us. The Bible is a book of corrections. God wants to correct our mindset and our ways so correction is something we should welcome as believers. This passage tells us not to be judgmental of others. So when do we become judgmental? 

• We become judgmental when we measure people wrongly (verses 1-2). Only God can see the heart of a man. Each person has a story that shapes his thoughts, words, and actions. We then should give everyone the benefit of the doubt. 

• We become judgmental when we only notice others' faults but not ours (verse 3). We can't escape God's judgment by condemning others. All of us need Jesus Christ's cleansing blood to free us from our sins. So if we notice a fault in others, it's a reminder to us to check ourselves if we are guilty of the same iniquity. 

• We become judgmental when we try to remove others' faults but not ours (verses 4-5). Wayne W. Der said, "When you judge another, you don't define him. You define yourself." Instead of passing judgment, we should then concentrate on loving others. 

How should we then apply this passage in our everyday life? 

• We should not jump into conclusion. Just like a real judge in a courtroom, he studies all the pieces of evidence first before making a decision. Likewise, don't conclude if you haven't seen or heard all the sides of a story. Avoid gossip as it ensnares us to make the wrong judgment of others. 
• Give others the benefit of the doubt. What we think about a person is not always true especially with a fellow believer who God is conforming to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Everyone has the capacity to change with God's help so instead of judging, we should help others to put on their new self as followers of Christ. 
• As for someone who has been judged, instead of viewing others' judgment as negative take it as a chance to do an honest self-reflection. There might be truth in their words. Maybe we are really guilty one way or another of those offenses. God can be using others to discipline you and to transform you into the image of His Son. But their beliefs about you do not have to define you. Seek the Holy Spirit's help to change, if needed. 
• It is inevitable for us to see someone else's mistakes. If we do and especially if we have a relationship with them, let us take this chance as an opportunity to lovingly rebuke and correct them. Loving others also means wanting them to become better people. This doesn't mean we don't let them suffer the consequences of their actions, sometimes we only learn when we do. 

I can no longer count how many times I have wrongly judged a person. I can also no longer count how many times I have been wrongly judged. We all make mistakes but these mistakes should not be our identity. Along with these mistakes are opportunities to learn, to show compassion, to show kindness and care not only to others but to ourselves as well. 

 

Have you ever been judged wrongly before? Have you judged a person wrongly? What have you learned from those experiences?

God bless!

Yours, 

Lady