I suppose that it is a product of my gradual growth in Jesus that I have began to be aware of a principle that I have observed in myself and almost all other followers of the Lord.
The fact is that we are really good as pronouncing judgement on others. We seem to be able to observe, analyze and articulate what is happening in the heart of someone by what we observe. We can see the particular behavior of another person and immediately begin to understand what kind of person they are and why they are doing what they are doing.
Or can we?
It seems to me that it is a byproduct of the fall of man that we easily observe faults in others but find it very hard to see or even admit our own faults. We desire mercy and grace from others for ourselves when we fail, but when we see others fail it is often very hard for us to show them mercy and grace.
I was studying the second chapter of Romans and when I began in verse 1, I was struck by the truth of it’s declaration:
Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
In writing about the problem of judging the motives of another based on our observation of their behavior, I cannot rightly say that you who are reading this always wrongly judges other people. I can however rightly say that I often miss judge others in what kind of person I think they are based solely on their observed behavior.
The importance of Romans 2:1 for me personally is that here the Holy Spirit is seeking to educate us on the fact that when we observe behavior or actions in another person and form a negative opinion, we need to realize that in one way or another, we have ourselves also practiced at some time,the same things.
It appears that we become sensitive to the faults of others because of our own internal struggle with the same issues. If we are a very impatient person, we will notice immediately the impatience of someone else. I think that this is one of the important points that Romans 2:1 is making.
To realize that when we observe someone else and form a negative thought or express and negative word about them, it is almost for certain that we ourselves also have a problem in this area. Here the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to instead look inward at ourselves and judge our own actions, motivations before we do so towards others.
When Jesus said these words:
Luke 6:42 Or how can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
It seems to this writer that Jesus was asking us to do exactly what I have stated here in this brief article. That our formed judgment of others is based on our own faults and difficulties with the very same issue. Once we begin to see ourselves and our faults as the Lord see us, then we should come to a place of deep humility. In that humility there is little room for an ability to judge the actions of someone else.
When we graduate to a place where we see ourselves as the hopeless sinners that we were before we surrendered our life to Jesus Christ, then humility replaces judgment. Empathy and Love replace gossip and formed opinions. When we arrive at the correct place of humility in our own walk with Jesus, then we will cease from speaking anything negative of another person. When we see the faults of others, it will remind us of our own faults and bring us to our knees time and again to not only ask the Lord for mercy and grace in our own life, but that He would shower His mercy and grace upon these also we perceive as failing.
A second aspect of this judgment that we place on others, is that in my mind, I realize that I really do not know what is going on in the heart or mind of the person I am seeing or hearing. I may think that I know, but really do not.
Often if we see a fellow brother or sister in Christ saying or doing something that we do not personally approve of or believe the Lord would approve, we may start to isolate ourselves from them. When we see them at the local Walmart, we may duck into a nearby row of merchandise so that they don’t see us and we will not have to speak to them. When in church, we may go to some length to make sure we don’t spend any lingering time with this person other than the traditional quick hello or handshake.
May I suggest that if this has ever happened to us, that we are wrong. First of all, no matter whatever it is that we have seen or heard this person do or say, we don’t really know what their true motivations are. We don’t know that the heart of this person is completely the opposite of what we perceive of them.
Have you ever been incorrectly judged by another person? I am sure that you have. How did that feel to you? For me, there is perhaps nothing more hurtful than to have someone think you have done something wrong, when you know that you did not. It is extremely hurtful to have your family of friends shun you because they “think” you did something or have become something other that what you know you really are.
A few days ago, here in the Bible Prophecy Update web site, I posted a daily devotional by Blackaby Ministries that speaks of this same issue. That of maintaining our own personal integrity when others incorrectly perceive us. Here is the text of that devotional:
Integrity Upheld
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. (Psalms 41:12)
Joseph was a righteous man who had cultivated a reputation for godliness in his community. Then word spread across the community that Mary, the woman to whom he was engaged, was expecting a child. There would be many who would assume the worst of this apparently scandalous situation. Joseph probably experienced gossip from some, ostracism from others. Yet he was a man of integrity, aware that God knew the truth of his relationship with Mary.
At times, God will be the only witness to your righteous behavior. Sometimes God is the only one who will understand your motives. Sometimes you will do all you know God has asked you to do, only to face ridicule from others. At such times all you can do is maintain your integrity, trusting that God always keeps His eyes on you. God looks favorably upon those who walk with integrity, doing_what they know is right, regardless of how others perceive_their actions.
The most important thing is not that people know the truth. The most important thing is that you are a person of integrity before God. When no one seems to understand why you have done something or when others question whether you have done all you should have done, your confidence should not be in the hope of vindication in the eyes of others. It should be in the knowledge that God keeps you in His sight. If you have this confidence, it will be enough to sustain you.
For me, one who has often been incorrectly judged, gossiped about and shunned by close friends and family for things they perceived that I had done, when none of these actually happened, I understand the comfort of this devotional. If you also have been incorrectly judged by another, then you will feel the comfort and encouragement of this devotinal.
Lastly, we are often ourselves the persons who are the cause of so much hurt in others when we allow ourselves to judge the actions of others. We may not even know how much hurt we have caused a friend or family member as we have spread our opinions from person to person, and removed ourselves from contact with this person.
My prayer is that all of us who truly know Jesus will find a little more humility and restraint in the judgment we place on the behavior of others. Realizing that we too are subject to the very same faults and inconsistencies that we see in someone else. That we not only refuse to speak negatively about someone else, but also refuse to hear from someone any negative comments of others.
May the Lord continue to bless you as you seek everyday to become more like Jesus.
Rob Robinson
