Judging - Part One

By necessity and due to the sheer nature of the flesh, it's a given that the topic I address in this Victory Call is one which must be kept before our eyes and must be diligently annihilated in any and all ways it will show up in our lives.

That topic is judging. You know, that thing we love to hate to do, and yet, can't seem to cease from? No matter what is going on we are drawing conclusions, making assumptions, presumptions, making broad statements about situations and circumstances based on bits of information. In other words, we are judging.

Lest you misunderstand, let me make this one clarifying statement. We, all, ought always to be discerning, watching and careful to assess and evaluate all that life brings to us. However, when it comes to judging it would serve most, if not all, of us well if the deeds, motives and heart we first judged, was in fact our own.

Let me share a story with you:

"Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village. Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse. Even the king coveted his treasure. A horse like this had never been seen before - such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.

People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused. "This horse is not a horse to me," he would tell them. "It is a person. How could you sell a person? He is a friend, not a possession. How could you sell a friend?"

The man was poor and the temptation was great. But he never sold the horse.
One morning he found that the horse was not in his stable. All the village came to see him. "You old fool," they scoffed, "we told you that someone would steal your horse. We warned you that you would be robbed. You are so poor. How could you ever protect such a valuable animal? It would have been better to have sold him. You could have gotten whatever price you wanted. No amount would have been too high. Now the horse is gone and you've been cursed with misfortune."

The old man responded, "Don't speak too quickly. Say only that the horse is not in the stable. That is all we know; the rest is judgment. If I've been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?"

The people contested, "Don't make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed. The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse."

The old man spoke again. "All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone. The rest I don't know. Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can't say.
All we can see is a fragment. Who can say what will come next?"1

I will finish the story tomorrow. For now, let me leave you with this question/thought: What situation or circumstance in your life or the life of another are you judging right now with only partial knowledge?

"Judge not, that you be not judged." ~ Matthew 7:12
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." ~ John 7:24
"And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear," ~ Isaiah 11:3

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An "instrument of change" in the Redeemer's Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America's Keswick as Woman of Character Program Administrator.

DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1 Max Lucado (In the Eye of the Storm) The Old Man and the White Horse http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/woodcutters.wisdom.pdf