James 4:11-12
James Series
Judgment is a difficult thing to walk away from and we make those difficult choices daily. I’ve found one thing will help when we choose not to judge. We choose to love.
We choose unconditional love.
We choose not to look for the bad in people but rather we choose to look for the good. Sometimes that’s easy, but there are times when we have to diligently search for the good in people and choose to love them for the good.
We also choose to pray for them and leave God in charge of their lives.
In James 4:11-12 he writes, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?”
In James’ statement he seems to make a flying leap from purifying ourselves and being humble to not being judgmental. However, it seems to me that one would follow the other.
In James 4:7-10 James lays the foundation for what God would have us BE. Then in James 4:11-12, he offers a reminder to us. Even though we cleanse ourselves and put on humility, that doesn’t give us the right to act as judge and jury to others. In verse 12, James clearly says that “there is ONE lawgiver” who saves and destroys. In other words, only God has the right to judge.
Think of it this way…you just did something good and you’re feeling like you’re pretty special. After all, you are human. You walk out your front door and head for the mailbox. On the way down the driveway you spot your neighbor out of the corner of your eye. He is ranting and raving about something to his teenage son. His language is terrible and he is making his son feel very ashamed.
You know the answer.
You know that instead of yelling, cursing, and making his son feel like he’s about two inches tall, he should stay calm and instruct his son. He needs to tell his son what he did wrong without making him feel like a ‘scumbag’.
Since you know the answer, you decide to go tell him what he should do and what he’s doing wrong.
You walk toward him and your neighbor sees you coming. He knows you are a believer and he tells you he doesn’t need you to interfere in the conversation he’s having with his son. You decide to give him advice anyway.
It’s an understatement to say it doesn’t go well. Your relationship with your neighbor has been friendly up to this point, but now he tells you that you are not allowed in his yard and he will never speak to you again.
You walk away wondering what went wrong…after all you had good intentions.
Let’s play the scenario again. You see your neighbor, hear him yelling, and you start praying for him. You quietly (and secretly) go sit on your front porch and you continue to pray for him and his son.
Your neighbor sees you sitting outside. He realized he is making a spectacle of himself and he calms down. He looks at his son and tells him he’s sorry that he lost his temper. He quietly tells his son what he should have done.
Later, your neighbor knocks on your door. He tells you he’s sorry that he made a scene. You tell him it’s okay. While you are talking, you quietly pray and ask God what you should say to your neighbor. Your neighbor seems to feel like you might be someone he can trust so he opens up a bit about something he’s going through. At the end of your conversation you tell him that God loves him. He actually ends up asking for prayer.
Because you didn’t judge and offer advice, God gave you an open door for years to come. You end up becoming a mentor for your neighbor. He often calls you to ask for prayer.
Which scenario makes more sense?
God tells us not to judge, and sometimes it’s so we can establish a relationship with another person who really needs God. God had more for you and your neighbor in mind.
Waiting, praying and trusting God is not the quick route. It’s not always the easy route, but when we leave the judgment to God we can become an avenue of hope for others.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Pray
Ask God to show you someone who can use your love and care.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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