We are instructed to judge. But what is the difference between Godly judgment and Ungodly judgment?
Ungodly judgment: to assume to know why someone said or did something.
We are instructed to judge by a person's fruit. But what does that mean?
Luke 6: 43-45
A Tree and Its Fruit aka: A person and their actions
43"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
There is a saying, "Actions speak louder than words". Example: A person can say, "I am a Christian", but if their actions don't show Christ like character, then one is not believed to be a Christian.
This is called observation. When you make an observation, you're making a Godly judgment based on the fruit in a person's life by their actions.
Now, ungodly judgment is when we go 1 step past observation. When we observe someone's behavior and then decide to know why they are saying and doing what they are doing, this is when you have made an ungodly judgment.
* Important fact: The moment you make an ungodly judgment, you will respond to a person out of that judgment. When we make an ungodly judgment and respond to someone out of that ungodly judgment, we respond inappropriately. This is when the offense and emotional pain begins.
I will expound:
Luke 6: 37 & 38 (KJV)
Judging Others
37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
This is often read to read like this: If you judge man, God will judge you.
That is not what the scripture says. It says, if you do not judge man, man will not judge you, if you forgive man, man will forgive you. It never says God will judge you, but man.
Now, look a bit closer, it goes on to say, that what ever you give to a man, you will get it back, "Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give..."
Next, let's think about it like this. If we are sowing seeds, then our life is like a garden. We know that when we sow seeds, we always get back far more than what we sowed.
This begs the question,"What kind of seeds am I sowing?"
Question to you: Ever noticed that you can be in a really good mood, then encounter someone that is angry and condescending towards you and you find yourself beginning to feel the same towards them?
Human nature is to give back what we're feeling.
Here is the kicker, this is the moment that we have a choice: Give back to the person what they are giving us, (and our human nature is to give back what we're feeling and then a little more so that one feels "vindicated") or over-ride the urge to give back what they are sowing and do what is right- Stay calm, and do as the word says, "A kind word turns away wrath"- Proverbs 15:1
Next question: How do I not make an ungodly judgment and NOT re-act inappropriately when I know that a person does not like me?
* I will be teaching more on this subject this Saturday, Dec. 5th @ 9:30a *
Location:
Loaves and Fishes Ministry bldg.
For more info: contact@pamelaharrisonministries.org
www.pamelaharrisonministries.org
