Monday, May 2, 2011

Judgment

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.  -Romans 14:10, 12

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of hte law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the aw, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able ot save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?   -James 4:11-12

It is so easy to fall into the trap of comparing and judging. I know how I should be; Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (Romans 14:13) But it's easy to slip, especially when I can tell others are judging me (particularly my mothering!). Paul pinpoints a common reason we judge:

Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. (14:22)

If we have faith and are confident in ourselves and our path, we won't feel the need to defend and compare with anyone else, and we can just learn from the good that we see in others. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (14:19) 

1 comment:

  1. This is such a tricky thing - to note another's weaknesses without calling attention to them in any way, while finding things in that person to honor and incorporate into our own lives.

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