Judgment-Judging
others
Judgment – the ability
to make a decision or form an opinion. An authoritative opinion. An estimate. A
decision reached after consideration.
Judge – to have an
assumption. To decide authoritatively after deliberation. To form an evaluation
of.
Opinion – a belief held
with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge. A judgment of the
value of a person or thing. A conclusion based on special knowledge.
The
Lord tells us to love our neighbor as our self, he also tells us not to judge
our brother or sister!
1 Corinthians
12-30
– the writer Paul talks about the church of Christ as being one body with many
parts.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
12 – The body is a
unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many,
they form one body.
14 – Now the body
is not made up of one part but many parts.
15 – If the foot
should say, because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body, it would not
for that reason cease to be part of the body.
16 – And if the
ear should say, because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body; it would
not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
26 – If one part
suffers, every part suffers with it, if one part is honored, every part
rejoices with it.
27 – Now you are
the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.
I have noticed a phenomenon lately that I
think is universal in our society.
I refer to it as
using others for your own personal gain.
Remember
we are called to love one another equally without judging them.
I
have noticed that many people use other people as long as they feel those other
people can provide them with something they need, want or desire. In fact if they
find that another person cannot provide them with something they need, want and
desire they ignore them all together.
To
them, the other people become faceless, useless, a waste of time, someone to be
avoided, not have contact with. I have found myself and as well noticed others
who choose not to communicate.
It
is more than just not having a common interest, it is rude, arrogant, obnoxious
behavior that says I am superior to you, I don’t need you, I don’t care about
you, I am not going to waste my time on you, so I choose to ignore you, not
look at you, not have eye contact with you. These people have a tendency to be
narcissistic, prideful, self- centered, self- absorbed, selfish, rude,
arrogant, conceited, vain, cocky, bossy, center of attention, prideful,
boasters, egotistical, insecure.
I
know people who know me and when I walk by them, their eyes peer down so as to
avoid eye contact. They don’t even respond when you make small talk towards
them like, hi, how are you doing?
What’s
up?
How
are you doing?
Good
morning, afternoon or evening.
They
simply choose to ignore you.
They
think they are better than you, above you, and that you don’t have anything
they want. It is a different story if you have something they want, need or
desire.
Then
all of a sudden, they are your best friend.
They
greet you enthusiastically, they want to spend time with you, and they call you
or ask you to participate in various activities. They will be your friend as
long as they get what they want from you and when they can’t get what they want
they discard you faster than a used napkin.
These
people live in the world and take what the world has to offer them; they
basically are in take mode.
The
best way to defuse people like this is to smile, be cordial, love them and
continue to serve them.
We
are not called to be judgmental, racist, biased, opinionated, prejudiced, and
insensitive.
We are called to
love.
Don’t
choose to ignore people, smile, and be friendly with everyone.
The
Lord does caution us to be on the lookout for Satan. Satan lurks everywhere and
does exist in many people that you will come in contact with. We do need to protect
our self, not be foolish, be careful not to put our self in compromising
positions that is another topic in and of itself.
What
I am referring to are people who when we come in contact with, that we befriend
or associate with, through work, school, church, community events etc. we all
know people who seem to get along with everyone, who are liked by everyone, and
who appear to be genuine or real.
They
seem to be open, honest, sincere, lovable or likeable; they don't make fun of
others, tease others or discount others. There are actually very few people like
this, just as it says in 1 Corinthians
12 – we need everybody that lives in
God's kingdom. We are not to isolate our self, but to give of our self, our
love, our time, talent and money out of love and service.
Those
that don't do this are driven in part by Satan. They think they are all that
but in reality they are nothing but empty shells. They are worried about the
outside, what they have, what they do, whom they are seen with and what they
can get from you and the world. They are focused on themselves, driven by their
own self ego and separated from our Lord and savior. In reality, they are in
pain and we are called to love these individuals, have compassion and sympathy.
They are blinded to the word of the Lord and by our kindness, honest, integrity
we can plant a seed of Christ in your heart.
When
someone is mean, angry, abusive, hurtful, it is our responsibility to love
them.
Feel
sorry for them; tell them that you will pray for them.
I
have told several people in my life that I would be praying for them and it
seemed to stop them dead in their tracks. People do not know how to respond to
someone who tells them they are going to be prayed for. Make sure you then do
pray for that individual. It is amazing what the suggestion of prayer does to
another person. You see Satan lives in most of these people and when you tell
them you will pray for them, Satan doesn’t know what to do or say.
We
are called to kind, considerate and nice to everyone.
Let
those who live in darkness and who are filled with evil alone.
Be
cordial, plant a seed and move on.
There
are billions of people in this world, don’t get upset that one, two, a hundred
or even a thousand don’t see the world as you do.
Don’t
use people and don’t disregard people.
Again
we are all God’s children; we need to treat others with respect and dignity,
honesty and truth.
Don't
lead people to believe something about your relationship that simply is not
true.
This
is selfish, dishonest and harmful.
Everyone
you come in contact with has their own set of unique feelings.
Don't
hurt someone else's feelings if it is avoidable.
Don’t stick in
relationships out of fear, laziness, desperation, comfort, uncertainty.
If
you are married, stay married.
If
you are dating, be honest, brutally honest.
Give
more than you receive, love more than you are loved.
Don’t
expect and don’t assume anything, talk about everything – don’t hold back,
thinking it might hurt the other persons feelings or harm the relationship.
Be
equally yoked – absolutely.
I
love you Lord. I thank you for the
insight, for the scriptures, for my life. Thank you for being with me and
calming me when things don't go as planned or the way I want them to.
It
is also important to stay flexible, be willing to compromise and willing to
serve without expecting anything in return. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
