JUDGING OTHERS.

We tend to judge others quickly and wrongly whenever they do something (that seems) wrong, forgetting that we’re not perfect or all the same. Sometimes when we judge others we only see things from our own perspective, ignorant of their motive or reason for what they did. It’s okay to judge others, but it’s only okay if we do so RIGHTEOUSLY. Sadly most of us don’t, we judge other just because they made a mistake which we think we can never make, and sometimes out of envy; making them feel bad/ foolish, bringing down their self-esteem. That’s wrong, God said we should judge righteously (John 7:24, John 5:30) i.e. with humility, acknowledging that no one’s perfect, not you not them, judging others with an intention of correcting them, not to condemn. If God judged us the way MOST of us judged our fellow men, I wonder where we would all be by now… Never judge to condemn, unless you’re God; we’re supposed to help each other, see each other through this journey we call LIFE. When we humbly and righteously judge, we tend to strengthen the bonds between us either as a family, friends, spouses, church, even as a nation.

Judging others doesn’t end at talking to them about their faults/ mistakes. It’s also about talking to God about them. Don’t go talking to just anyone about other people’s faults, that won’t solve the problem. Neither will yelling, talking angrily, harshly or acting violently while correcting others solve the problem, you might worsen the case. Pick your words wisely while judging/ correcting others.

Proverbs 15:1- A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Don’t go walking around like you’re one perfect person like that, judging everyone, seeing the mistake in what everyone else but you does, and forgetting that you also have your own luggage to carry. But you’re permitted to do that if you can practically drive 2 cars, at the same time, manually. If not, focus on yourself and your flaws before focusing on others’. Exercise self-judgment daily (1 Corinthians 11:31), live by example (1 Peter 5:3, 1Timothy 4:12), and remove the plank in your eye, before you talk about the dust in another man’s eye (Matthew 7:5). Your actions speak louder than your words.

No one is too old, or too wise to be corrected, even Solomon made a big mistake in spite of all his wisdom, and God apologized to Moses (Exodus 32:14). As the Yoruba elders would say, “both hands get clean when one is used to wash the other” (if my translation is correct). Don’t be puffed up with pride, thinking you shouldn’t or can’t be corrected, and don’t be too shy to correct others or tell them about their faults. Don’t be a “Yes man” telling others they’re perfect or all is well when it’s otherwise. It’s better to correct them in private than for them to be corrected and disgraced in public. And don’t be a hypocrite while judging others, correcting them and yet doing the same thing you corrected them for behind closed doors/ in private.(Romans 2:3)

Romans 2:3 CEV- Do you really think God won't punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse?

Matthew 7:2- For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.

Grace be with y’all. 