KINGDOM LIVING REQUIRES JUDGMENT
FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE. Matthew 7:1-12 There are two types of judgment: · Condemnation judgment-a pronouncement of condemnation, reserved for God only. · Conclusion judgment-making a judgment call after examining the evidence-a personal responsibility for us. This passage isn't saying not to judge, but when you judge (make conclusions about things and people) conduct your judgment in the proper way. Here are 4 steps for doing this: #1-JUDGE WITH THE PROPER SPIRIT 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. When you judge (conclusion judgment), understand that you will be judged by others in precisely the same area. If you are critical of another's parenting style, you will be critically analyzed for your parenting prowess. #2-JUDGE WITH THE PROPER STARTING POINT 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in someone else's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from the other person's eye.
When you judge (conclusion judgment), look at yourself first. Don't go after the speck in your brother's eyes, until you have taken the log out of your own eye. It's all a matter of perspective. Once you remove the log out of your eye, then you will be able to see clearly how to take the speck out of your brother's eye. What's interesting is that when you haven't dealt with your own "stuff", you tend to pick away and condemn others for whatever their "stuff" happens to be. The favorite indoor sport for most churches is to confess the sins of the world! #3-JUDGE WITH PROPER SCREENING 6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. When you judge (conclusion judgment), don't just randomly make your judgment calls wherever you might be. For instance, don't walk into a bar and start making pronouncements against drunkenness and alcoholism. This will be throwing your pearls before swine. They not only will not appreciate your words, but they will not be able to hear them at all, in turn, having grounds to criticize you. #4-JUDGE WITH THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened. 9 "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
When you judge (conclusion judgment), don't rely only on your insights and wisdom. Be sure to seek God's perspective on the matter. Ask for wisdom on the matter! Ask and keep on asking, Seek and keep on seeking, Knock and keep on knocking, and your heavenly Father will give you what you need! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. I call this teaching of Jesus THE PERSPECTIVE PRINCIPLE. This principle requires that you be a judge-bringing discernment into your world. Without discernment your world will fall apart for sure! For without discernment or a conclusion kind of judgment, your world will never understand what is right and wrong, good and bad, or wise and foolish.
