Luke 6:37-38
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their
failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same
treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can
boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away
your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given
back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way.
Generosity begets generosity.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
There is a “local” morning
show on television that I like to watch, and each Wednesday, a
psychologist is interviewed for a segment on personal relationships.
This morning, she was talking about people who try to do too much and
have it all – particularly women. She said that often, we look at other
people and think that they have it all together…and we try to be just
like them. She also pointed out that when we see people in public – or
on social media – we are often seeing their best. Their life may not be
all that rosy or carefree behind closed doors.
So what does this
have to do with today’s scripture passage? Every person has a story.
The psychologist pointed out that each one of us has “issues”…struggles,
concerns, things that are not perfect in our lives. And just after
this segment aired, I saw a “promo” for a story that will air later
about Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade, who says as a child, he
had body image issues and would not swim without wearing a shirt. The
promo featured a photo of the incredibly fit and muscular Wade with the
tag line that even HE has body issues. See…we all have our challenges
and idiosyncracies!
You’re probably still wondering how this relates to a scripture on judgment and criticism. So here goes…everybody has issues.
Nobody is perfect. As well as you think you know someone, you really
have no clue what is going on in their heart and mind…or maybe in the
privacy of their own home. And they don’t know you, either. So when
you criticize someone or pick on their faults, you are setting yourself
up for the same scrutiny. And others might just end up judging you
unfairly. At the very least, it doesn’t feel good to be criticized or
disparaged – about anything!
Before you call someone a “jerk”…or a
“screw-up”...or cluck your tongue about this or that thing that he/she
said or did…stop and look at your own life. Remember that time when you
acted so foolishly? Do you recall the incident where your judgment was
seriously clouded? What about the horrible or thoughtless thing you
said or did in the heat of the moment? These misbehaviors do not excuse
those of someone else…one person’s sins do not justify another. But we are not the judge and jury…we are not God!
We
cannot have it both ways…although I sometimes wish we could – don’t
you? I’m human…and an imperfect sinner, so yes, there are days when I
wish I could rant and rave and rail against the world as if I know what
is best! But I have to stop and remind myself that the person who is
getting on my last nerve – or behaving in a manner that is unacceptable
to me – has just as much right to a relationship with Jesus and the
privilege of being called His precious child as I do. The same
forgiveness that I am afforded is offered to him/her, also. And judging
others is simply “not my circus, not my monkeys.”
I don’t have a
handle on this yet…but I am surely working on it. I am asking God each
day to give me a heart like His…to allow me to see others as He sees
them – and treat them as Jesus demonstrated. I’m not where I want or
need to be yet…but will prayerfully keep trying to do better. What
about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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