Judge not...

"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?" (Romans 2:1-3) ESV


I don't know about you, but this is one thing I can't stand. When somebody judges me and tries to "fix" me, and I see the same things they are putting me down for so blatantly obvious in their own life. Naturally, I always think, "Fix your own problems first, then maybe you'll be justified in trying to fix mine." I mean, haven't people paid attention to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount? Talk about "the speck and beam principle." Excuse me? You seem to have a beam there in your own eye...


But, sadly, you know what I've found out? I do the same thing. That's right. It's so easy to see other people's faults, and maybe even point them out. But, according to this passage, the reason other people's sins and shortcomings bother me so much is because I am seeing myself. And I don't like it. So I get really annoyed and start thinking, "Somebody needs to shape up." Yeah, how about me?


Try it. Think of something that really annoys or disgusts you. Then look honestly at your own life and see if there has been a time that you did the same thing or something similar. I'm almost positive you'll find something, and it will probably hurt you to admit it.


For example, I get so fed up with stubborn people. People that always have to be right. Always. So, am I stubborn? ...Very. I want things my way, and it's so hard to admit that I'm wrong after all.


Moodiness gets on my nerves. Like, snap out of it! Quit acting so... blah! Ok. Reality check. I am a very moody person. Oh yeah... Well, my moodiness has good cause, right?


Pride. I can't stand it. So many people are full of it. In fact, if you're American... ummm... Anyway, pride just repulses me and I always think, "Dude, pride goes before a fall, and you are gonna fall hard." ...Wait a minute. Can't you just see the pride in that? Kind-of like the Pharisee who said, "Thank you, God, that I'm better than that filthy, rotten sinner over there." But God condemned him for his pride. He wasn't really any better. He was blind to his sin and refused to repent, while the publican truly repented and was forgiven. I'll admit, I'm full of pride. You may not see it, but it's there, and it doesn't want to leave. I mean, I was disgusted with myself because of some thoughts I had recently that showed I am completely the opposite of humble. I'm not saying the devil can't plant thoughts, but I was listening to them and agreeing with them.


So be careful. And don't get to the point where you are like, "Hey that person must have this sin in their life because of..." Then who's judging? Or we start judging those who judge us... And it gets confusing.


All I'm saying is... let God be the judge. He's the only one qualified. And if you judge anyone, let it be yourself. Otherwise, you're only fooling one person. That's right, the one in the mirror.


“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1, 2)


JPK