Judgment-Judging others

 

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.