Do not judge and you will not be judged

Do you find it hard not to judge people?  I didn't think I did, that is until I started thinking about it.  I was right about some areas, I am not very judgemental, in fact I probably don't care enough about some things I see to have to struggle about whether I am judgemental or not.  But as I have thought about it in the last few weeks, I have seen that I am more judgemental than I first thought.  

For example, for a lot of things I am very non-judgemental, things like what people wear, believe and say.  Even if it's not my belief or taste, I am happy for people to have their freedom.

But there are 2 things I have noticed.  I think I am smokist and fatist.  I don't smoke and have never done so, nor have I ever   struggled with weight/body issues.  There is something about smoking and obesity that I just don't deal with very well.  Of course I know people in both camps (some in both) and I do not sit there actively hating them, however, I find myself being very unmerciful toward them.  "If I don't smoke why does anyone need to continue such a habit", "I can keep my weight under control, why can't everyone" etc...

No doubt I have many more judgemental 'ist's', and I think the basis of being judgemental toward others revolves around one thing... me!    Judging others, whether we admit it or not, is about seeing ourselves in a positive light and what better way to do that than to contrast other's imperfections with our perceived strengths, or at least to put them below ourselves.  

There are so many things wrong with judging others but here's just a few to think about:  

1. Judging others means we take our focus off the perfection of God.  - If we judged ourselves by God's standard, we would realise that his perfection is so far out of our reach that we would not even kid ourselves by comparing our 'goodness' to others weakness.
2. Judging others takes our focus on what God is requiring of us - We distract ourselves with the self gossip of judging others in our mind, keeping us from meditating on our own need to be conformed to Jesus.
3. Judging others sets us up in opposition to them.  Whilst we are judging, we are providing ourselves with reasons why we do not have to love and support and identify with others.

Jesus said "why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?...  ...you hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye" (Matt 7)

When you go to take the plank out of your own eye, you soon realise your own warped view.  Having compared yourself to God and started to rely on him for change you are then in a position to help others because you will be pointing them to God not your own virtue, and you will be in the same boat as them.

Ian Grant, who is a Christian communicator in New Zealand often describes himself in this way when talking of his relationship with God and encouraging others to go to God: "I'm just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread"

I like that.  

So next time I find myself judging, I will remember my place and look to God to help me with my own plank first...

The measure you use

How we think about and treat others will affect us.

Check this out:

"Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running, over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured to you."  - Luke 6:37-38

Have you ever noticed how stingy people never have enough money.  On the other hand, some people who are generous still seem to have an excess after all they give away.  Now some may say, it is easy for those with a lot to give something away - of course they still have plenty left - but me, I haven't got much. 

Someone once said, you cannot receive unless you have open your hands and this is one way I think of this verse.  If you are in the habit of giving, money and resources have a way of finding their way to you.  You will no doubt know people who exemplify this reality in their life.

This is not all about money though, don't judge or condemn and you won't be either, forgive and you will be forgiven.  These ones are potentially harder to quantify in a way that can be compared from life to life however the presence of judgementalism, grudgeholding and condemning people can certainly be detected as can those who are freeing, encouraging and generous spirits.

The big key about this passage though is that this isn't simply Karma ie. you do something good and the universe does something good for you, this is God.  When it comes down to it, whatever we do will be seen by God and it is him who ultimately oversees what we receive.  As the last half of the passage illustrates, what God gives to us always exceeds what we give.

If I was going to sum this passage up in just two words I would say - Be Generous - be generous in allowing people the benefit of the doubt, be generous in building people up, be generous in giving to people what you have... be generous!