The Reason We Should Be Careful About Judging Others

Aug 3

Aug 3 The Reason We Should Be Careful About Judging Others

Proverbs Devo, God's Word, Personal Faith, Wisdom

Overexposure

I’ve often wondered why people subject themselves to the public scrutiny of reality shows. Is it just for the money? Or is it for the attention and the possibility to become famous? Much of the time, some not-so-glamorous moments in people’s lives are exposed for all to see.

As you can probably tell, I’m not a big fan of reality shows. I’ve tried to watch some a few times, but I find myself cringing and shaking my head at what I see. I wouldn’t want that kind of attention!

I don’t relish having my life exposed for everyone to see. For one thing, people are too quick to draw conclusions and jump to unfounded judgments about others’ reasons and motives.

As a pastor and a missionary overseas, our life was somewhat public and I’ve experienced some unwanted exposure of my life. I’ve also endured some unfair and unwarranted criticism along with some condemnation thrown in for good measure.

It is part of the territory for those in leadership roles, but it can still be difficult to endure. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but opinions are just that—opinions.

Opinions aren’t right, true, or valid on their own. They are someone’s personal beliefs or ideas. As I’ve learned over the years—there’s always more to the story, and an opinion is just one person’s view.

Here is what’s most important to remember. Whenever anyone of us sits in judgment of others, we’re sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to God—the only True and Righteous Judge.

Scripture

If Sheol and Abaddon lie open in front of the Lord

how much more the human heart! (Proverbs 15:11 GW)

(Context—Proverbs 15:8-19 GW)

Proverbs 15

Simple Insights

There’s not one person on earth who hasn’t sat in judgment on another. All of us do it in some way and to some degree.

We look askance at people for what they wear or don’t wear, or how they talk or look or act. People judge each other for what they eat or don’t eat, the music they like or don’t like, their politics, their favorite sports team, and what they watch or won’t watch on TV.

Several places in the New Testament scriptures, including the words of Jesus in the Gospels, tell us there will be a judgment to come of all people at the end of the age. None of us know when that will be exactly but it is certain.

What catches my attention about all this is how exposed my heart is before God. None of us know when the end of the age judgment will be exactly, but it is certain.

It’s not just my heart that’s exposed to God, it’s every human heart. Yours and mine. Even Sheol and Abaddon—death and destruction—are not hidden from God. After all, He is eternal.

You won’t be seeing me in any reality shows—not if I have anything to say about it! But even if my life isn’t on display for all to see, I know the Lord sees everything in my heart—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

This humbles me when I consider it. The psalmist David says this eloquently in Psalm 139—here’s an excerpt—

You alone know when I sit down and when I get up. You read my thoughts from far away. You watch me when I travel and when I rest. You are familiar with all my ways.
Even before there is a ⌊single⌋ word on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me. (Psa 139:2-5 GW)

I try to keep this awareness fresh in my mind. Remembering that my heart is exposed before God helps me avoid sliding into any judgment seat. And when I do sit in His seat, I sense God’s Spirit whispering to my heart that I’m not where I ought to be.

Reflection—

All of us have judged someone in some way and to some degree. Whenever we do, we’re sitting in a seat that doesn’t belong to us. It belongs to the only True and Righteous Judge—God.