2020-10-23
Matthew 7:2 NIV
If you’re the one doing the judging, remember this timeless principle: What goes around comes around. Jesus said, “Do not judge…For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (vv. 1-2 NIV). It’s called the law of reciprocity, and it guarantees you will get back what you give. It’s not a threat; it’s an immutable law, just like the law of gravity.
You say, “I’m honest; I just tell it like it is. Besides, that person’s sin needs to be exposed!” It’s not about your honesty or their sin, it’s about God’s Word that forbids judging. You may be right and they may be wrong, but judging puts you in violation of Scripture. Plus it sets you up to be judged.
Question: What if the other person has already repented, confessed their sin, and received God’s forgiveness? Think about it: The worst kind of judging is judging sins God has already forgiven and forgotten (See Isaiah 43:25). When we judge others, we’re looking in the wrong direction. We’re avoiding what we don’t want to see – our own shortcomings.
Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3 NIV). Whatever their “speck” is, it’s God’s business – not yours. Your “plank” is your business! Jesus also said, “They are blessed who show mercy to others, for God will show mercy to them” (Matthew 5:7 NCV). Instead of judging others, start investing in your own “mercy account.” You’ll need it soon enough.
Soul food: Nahum 1-3; John 6:1-24; Ps 85; Prov 24:11-14
Matteus 7:2 NLV
As jy die een is wat oordeel, onthou hierdie tydlose beginsel: wat rondgaan, kom terug na jou toe. Jesus het gesê: ‘Hou op om ‘n oordeel oor ander uit te spreek… Hy sal julle beoordeel soos julle ander beoordeel. Die kriterium waarmee julle oordeel, sal ook vir julle self gebruik word’ (verse 1-2 NLV).
Dit word die wet van wederkerigheid genoem en dit waarborg dat jy dit sal ontvang wat jy uitgee. Dis nie ‘n dreigement nie; dis ‘n onveranderlike wet, net soos die wet van swaartekrag. Jy sê: ‘Ek is eerlik, ek sê dit soos ek dit sien. Buitendien, daardie persoon se sonde moet ontbloot word!’ Dit gaan nie oor jou eerlikheid of hulle sonde nie; dit gaan oor God se Woord wat veroordeling verbied. Jy mag dalk reg wees en hulle verkeerd, maar wanneer jy oordeel, oortree jy die Skrif.
Wat as die ander persoon alreeds berou gehad het, hulle sonde bely het en God se vergifnis ontvang het? Dink daaroor: Die ergste vorm van oordeel is om sondes te veroordeel wat God alreeds vergewe en vergeet het (sien Jesaja 43:25).
Wanneer ons ander mense oordeel, kyk ons in die verkeerde rigting. Ons vermy dit wat ons nie wil sien nie – ons eie tekortkominge. Jesus het gesê: ‘En hoe sien jy die splintertjie in jou medemens se oog raak, maar jy merk die yslike stomp in jou eie oog nie op nie?’ (Matteus 7:3 NLV). Wat daardie splintertjie ook al mag wees, dis God se besigheid – nie joune nie. Jou ‘stomp’ is jou besigheid!
Jesus het ook gesê: ‘Gelukkig is dié wat met deernis uitreik na mense in nood, want God sal aan húlle deernis bewys’ (Matteus 5:7 NLV). In plaas daarvan om ander mense te oordeel, begin in jou ‘deernis rekening’ belê. Jy sal dit gou genoeg nodig kry.
Sielskos: Nahum 1-3; Joh 6:1-24; Ps 85; Spr 24:11-14
2020-10-22
1 Korintiërs 4:5 NLV
Oordeel is soos asemhaal – dit gebeur natuurlik. Soms is die ergste kritici Christene wat die Skrif as wapen gebruik. Indien jy dus die een is wat geoordeel word, probeer om die volgende vier dinge te onthou:
1) Wys nederigheid. As jy skuldig is, bely dit aan God, jouself en die gepaste mense. Belydenis bring eerlikheid en geestelike groei mee (sien 1 Johannes 1:9).
2) Ken jou Bybel. Satan het die Skrif uit konteks gebruik om Jesus te probeer versoek, maar Jesus het die konteks geken en nie daarvoor geval nie (sien Lukas 4:1-13). Wanneer die Bybel uit konteks aangehaal word, onthou dat God dit nie op jou mik nie. Wanneer jy tereg deur God se Woord geoordeel word, moenie wanhopig word nie; dit beteken nie dat Hy vir jou kwaad is nie. Hy is lief vir jou: ‘Die Here dissiplineer juis die mense vir wie Hy lief is; Hy tug elkeen wat Hy as sy kind aanneem.
3) Moenie aangehits word om jouself te probeer regverdig nie. Mense wat oordeel is nie in feite geïnteresseerd nie – hulle wil net goed oor hulself voel deur jou sleg te laat voel. Kies jou gevegte versigtig en moenie tyd op die onbelangrike mors nie. Paulus het as volg teenoor sy kritici gereageer: ‘…Dis vir my werklik nie belangrik hoe julle of enige menslike regbank my beoordeel nie…’ (1 Korintiërs 4:3 NLV).
4) Moenie by die jurie aansluit nie. As God jou nie skuldig vind nie, moenie jouself oordeel nie. Volg Paulus se voorbeeld: ‘…Ek vertrou selfs nie eers my eie oordeel in hierdie opsig nie!’ (vers 3 NLV). As jy verkeerd is, bely dit en korrigeer dit met hulp van God se genade. Besluit dan om jou lewe sonder veroordeling te lei.
Sielskos: 2 Pet 1-3; Joh 5:31-47; Ps 126; Spr 24:10
1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV
Sadly, judging others often comes easily to us. And sometimes the worst critics are Christians who use Scripture as a weapon to condemn others. If you’re the one being judged, try to remember these four things:
1) Show humility. If you’re guilty, admit it to yourself, then to God, and then if it’s appropriate, admit it to others. Confession brings honesty and spiritual growth (take a look at 1 John 1:9).
2) Know your Bible. Satan took Scriptures out of context to try to trap Jesus, but Jesus knew the context so He didn’t fall for it (see Luke 4:1-13). If someone condemns you by taking the Bible out of context, remember God isn’t aiming at you. But if you’re rightly judged by God’s Word, don’t despair; it doesn’t mean He’s angry with you. You’re His child and He loves you, so He’ll use your actions as ‘teaching moments’ to develop you. ‘The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and…chastens everyone he accepts as his son’ (Hebrews 12:6 NIV).
3) Don’t be forced into justifying yourself. Judgmental people aren’t interested in facts – often they want to feel good by making you feel bad. Pick your battles wisely, and don’t waste time on unimportant things, or feel you need to reveal things that are just between you and God. Here’s how Paul responded to his critics: ‘I care very little if I am judged by you or…any human court’ (1 Corinthians 4:3 NIV).
4) Don’t judge yourself. If God doesn’t find you guilty, don’t keep believing you’re guilty. Follow Paul’s example: ‘Indeed, I do not even judge myself’ (v. 3 NIV). If you’re wrong, confess it, and correct it with God’s help. Then make up your mind to live your life free from condemnation.
2 Pet 1-3; John 5:31-47; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV
Judging others is like breathing – it comes naturally. And sometimes the worst critics are Christians who use Scripture as their weapon of choice. So if you’re the one being judged, try to remember these four things:
(1) Show humility. If you’re guilty, admit it to God, yourself, and the appropriate others. Confession brings honesty and spiritual growth (See 1 John 1:9).
(2) Know your Bible. Satan took Scriptures out of context to try to trap Jesus, but Jesus knew the context so He didn’t fall for it (See Luke 4:1-13). When the Bible is taken out of context, remember God isn’t aiming at you. And when you’re rightly judged by God’s Word, don’t despair; it doesn’t mean He’s mad at you. He loves you – just as you love your children even when they disobey, and use their actions as “teaching moments” to develop them. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and…chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:6 NIV).
(3) Don’t be goaded into trying to defend yourself. Judgmental people aren’t interested in facts – they just want to feel good by making you feel bad. Pick your battles wisely, and don’t waste time on the unimportant. Here’s how Paul responded to his critics: “I care very little if I am judged by you or…any human court” (1 Corinthians 4:3 NIV).
(4) Don’t volunteer for the jury. If God doesn’t find you guilty, don’t judge yourself. Follow Paul’s example: “Indeed, I do not even judge myself” (v. 3 NIV). If you’re wrong, confess it, and by God’s grace correct it. Then make up your mind to live your life free from condemnation.
Soul food: 2 Pet 1-3; John 5:31-47; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
