Thursday, August 5, 2010

August 5, 2010

"But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:12b



I remember one time I was playing a golf match against an opponent from the club where I belonged at the time. That day I was playing very well and beat the daylights out of him. As we walked off the eighteenth green we shook hands and as I was turning to walk away he said, "You want to know what you were doing wrong?"
I said, "I beg your pardon."
He replied, "Do you want to know what you were doing wrong in your golf swing?"
While I am fully aware that my golf swing is far from perfect, I wasn't interested in taking instruction from a guy I had just beaten like a rented mule so I politely refused his well-intentioned offer. Who was he to criticize me when I had handled him so easily? Why should my golf game be judged by him?
Now if someone like Jack Nicklaus wants to give me some golf tips - I'm there!
That is what I think of when I read this portion of Scripture about judging. Who am I to pass judgment on someone else when my game is far from perfect? Shouldn't I rather keep trying to improve my game? Wouldn't it be better for me to set a good example for other by the way I live rather than imposing my opinions upon them?
Who are you to stand in judgment of another person? Would your thoughts and energies be better served perfecting your own walk?
Which would you rather be part of, a church where everyone is telling each other how to live and criticizing one another personally and privately OR how about a fellowship where each believer is seriously seeking God to become a more excellent follower of Christ?
Me, too!
Granted, it is easier to analyze and criticize others instead of confronting our own glaring weaknesses but it is also destructive. It is certainly more consistent with human nature to pull someone else dawn rather than working hard to be lifted up. But believers are called to live under the supernatural not human nature.
How about you? Are you playing the role of Monday morning quarterback finding fault with others from the cheap seats?
Why not be a team mate that is practicing hard to improve your game and a coach to help others get better?
Which do think would please God? Which do think will build a stronger fellowship? Which will you choose?