Perhaps Today Devotional

Today's Devotional

WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT JUDGE ONE ANOTHER

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Romans 14:4, NKJV

But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Romans 14:10-13, NKJV

JUDGING the behavior of our fellow Christians is a common disobedience. The Scripture teaches us to be critical thinkers on matters of doctrine. We are commanded by the Bible not even to fellowship with heretics and false teachers. But the Bible encourages us to be charitable to all concerning mere behavioral differences. In this Romans passage, the apostle Paul notes that there are differences of opinion on how to observe certain holy days, and much division on whether or not to eat meat butchered for the purpose of pagan sacrifices

These same kinds of differences exist today. While the ethics of eating meat offered to idols no longer exists, other issues do. Several times I have sat in a restaurant with other Christians who ask, "Would it offend you if I ordered wine with my meal?"

"No," I say, "that is your personal choice." My wife and I do not drink anything alcoholic for several reasons. We would never want weaker Christians to see us drinking and think it is right for them. Still, I have no right to impose my personal convictions on other believers or judge them for their private preferences. I do take Paul’s admonition in verse 4 very seriously, "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls." In other words, Paul reasons, why bring discord among brethren by judging another’s behavior? After all, when Christ returns, He will judge us all at His judgment seat

We have already studied the judgment seat of Christ—the first post-Rapture tribunal—which exists only for believers. This will be a high court of rewards for the obedient. But it will also be a judgment of loss for those Christians whose behavior has caused others to sin. All Christians must give an account to God for their behavior. There are many kinds of Christian sins that will be judged at Christ’s judgment seat Consider all those who have caused divisions over minor ideas, created church splits, turned people away from the gospel, and alienated believers from each other. Consider what happens when Christians lose their temper. Their anger leads to hatred and then they grieve the Holy Spirit. Harboring unconfessed sin can also cause us to lose rewards we had otherwise earned (2 John 1:8).

If you despise anyone, forgive that person instantly, even if they are dearly in the wrong. Harboring mental bitterness toward anyone can destroy you. Consider these four reasons why you must forgive all:

First, holding a grudge is the root sin that not only leads to bitterness and anger, but also grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-32).

Second, bitterness that leads to wrath and anger is like a cancer that ruins your relationships with those you love and destroys the healthy tissue of loving discipleship.

Third, bitterness, wrath, and anger will keep you from becoming a mature Christian.

Fourth, these virtues of the flesh will cause you to lose your rewards at the judgment seat of Christ

The heart of our text for today is seen in Romans 14:12: "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." From Romans 14:10 we know that will happen at the judgment seat of Christ Paul counsels us to live every day as if it were our last. Then we will have no regrets, nor will we lose any earned rewards because we harbored bitterness in our hearts.

Those Christians who are concerned about how they will give an account of themselves to God have little time to get upset about the behavior of others. Conversely, those who spend too much time being critical of others usually pay too little heed to their own behavior. Once I gently confronted a Christian who had a critical and angry spirit. She found fault with everyone in the church, from the organist to the custodian. And horrors! She even at times found fault with my sermons! When I had had my say, her reply amazed me. "You don’t understand. I have the gift of criticism." When I asked where the Bible mentioned such a gift, she said, "I’m not sure, but if it doesn’t it should!"

We may smile at such poor souls and wonder how they get that way. The answer is "very gradually!" Beware!

Dear heavenly Father, I must confess that sometimes I let the "speck" of my brother’s behavior become a "log" in my own eye (Matthew 7:3). Then I refuse to deal with my own behavior. Forgive me and help me to trust You to judge others’ behavior. Above all, may I not let any other person ruin my relationship with You. In His name I pray, Amen.