If you are a regular reader, you would know by now what my favourite Book is. So here goes, I read this this morning from the book of Romans in the Bible and knew I had to blog about it.
1THEREFORE YOU have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce].
2[But] we know that the judgment (adverse verdict, sentence) of God falls justly and in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things.
3And do you think or imagine, O man, when you judge and condemn those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment and elude His sentence and adverse verdict?
4Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent ([a]to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?
5But by your callous stubbornness and impenitence of heart you are storing up wrath and indignation for yourself on the day of wrath and indignation, when God’s righteous judgment (just doom) will be revealed.
6For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]:(A)
7To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [[b]springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [[c]the eternal blessedness of] immortality, He will give eternal life.
8But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath.
9[And] there will be tribulation and anguish and calamity and constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).
10But glory and honor and [heart] peace shall be awarded to everyone who [habitually] does good, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile).
It’s pretty clear.
We have no excuse or defense or justification if we condemn another. Powerful. NO excuse to condemn any one else. However wrong they may be. So I guess the answer would be NOT to judge.
Now, when it comes to work then where do we draw the line about an employee, employer or colleague?
At work, we identify an individual’s ability, gifts & talents and when we do an appraisal it is about his or her ability to perform the task at hand.
Here, it talks about an individual’s character and reflection of his opinions in his experience of, and with, life and with God.
In the first line, it talks about “judges and condemns” another. To condemn is equal to accuse , put down, lay a verdict on a person’s character . integrity and his personality.
There is a fine line between a person’s character and his ability and performance at work as they are so closely entwined and enmeshed in the person. His character is sometimes portrayed in his performance.
But, again, is everyone perfect?
I love the way it says above, "the wealth of God’s kindness, forbearance and long-suffering patience..” …makes me love Him so much more. He has a wealth of kindness for me. For you. For who ever you are condemning in your heart today.
And the next line, His kindness leads us to repentance. Our kindness, patience and in this age, acceptance, leads that individual toward repentance. Just as God does it.
When I gossip about someone else and pass my condemning words, it is like a disease. It spreads. That’s what they call a rumour. “For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. “ We condemn ourself when we condemn another. Do you get it?
Maybe a colleague passed on information about me that is untrue. Do I do the same about her? Then, will I not be condemning myself? the wrath and indignation of God.
You know, most of the time when one is faced with an injustice ( according to our own principles) or when one feels condemned, ( I said, one feels condemned not that someone has condemned –there is a difference) , one reacts with accusatory thought, word or deed.
We need to take a step forward and try to understand individuals. Most people have a reason that is justifiable to themselves. That is why God says, show kindness. God knows and understands the frailty of man and his attempts at righteousness and self- justification.
That’s why only God can really judge. Why? Simple, because we never really know WHY a person did that or said this.
They say, step into the other person’s shoes and you would understand. Why did an addict become one? Do we take the time to understand and help and show kindness and long-suffering patience ? Or do we just condemn him for his actions. Who do we think we are?
thought-provoking. But I do hope it is more action-provoking.
Relationship between work and people. How much time do we take to understand people nowadays? If a machine conks out, oh, it must be this or the power supply or that…we take time to figure it out and help restore it. But a person?
Don’t be a judge, be a man. (this is not for licensed court judges :-))
For every person will be judged by God for his or her deeds. That would be enough.
Did you see how it says those who “habitually ” do evil, there will be tribulation. And for those who “habitually” do good, there will be glory and honor and peace. This is not for us to say, “oh he is in a lot of tribulation, he must be evil”. There you go judging again. Habitually condemning?
If you trust God, then leave it to Him, like He said. Don’t go all out taking revenge on your colleague to make yourself look good. Let God handle it.
If you have to stand for the truth though, do it. God will stand with you if you are the one being accused and your motive was true.
For God is watching. And waiting to see if we obey Him. For He is our judge.
The righteous Judge. Who has AMAZING GRACE.
Have a great day!
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