Easy to Judge

There is nothing easy about planning or executing a wedding. I know because my son just got married this last weekend. I was the groom’s mother and was, by default, not even part of the busiest side of the wedding (that goes to the bride’s side).

Regardless of the work, the planning, and the best interest in mind for all parts of the wedding, we knew there would be some family or friends who would feel offended at something, feel slighted, or left out. It happens. Never intentionally, of course. But something comes up, and these folks’ instant response of judgment appears.

I suppose this is part and parcel of combining human beings with an event like a wedding. Emotions will spill forth in time. And being judgmental is easy when we are offended or don’t agree with what’s happening. It’s a snap response, and we all do it. But it comes from a place of superiority or a place of inferiority to whatever the situation is, not from love.

Jesus tells us we are not called to judge. We don’t get to play God, judge others, and expect to get anything good in return from it. There’s nothing to gain from it other than a self-righteous attitude. I am guilty of this, and it pains me to write about it, but having seen it right in front of me this weekend, it’s revealing to see how judgmental we all are.

If I can learn not to judge, to accept what’s in front of me, and let God do the correcting (because this is 99% of most situations around me), I will become more loving, understanding, and empathetic. I will be a spirit-filled being acting as the hands and mind of Jesus, which is what I am here for.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV).

Finch Food for Thought: Be quick to understand, filled with humility, and slow to judge.