Lest Ye Be Judged

We all tend to be rather opinionated, myself included. In fact, if you’ve been reading this site, it’s obvious that I may well be the prince of opinionation. It is with a humble heart, therefore, that I urge us to consider together the subject of judging others. It seems to be human nature to judge. Try this experiment: Ask anyone you know about someone else and listen to their answer. You will almost certainly get an earful of judgements, even if they are minor. We are usually so quick to point the finger at others, yet upon closer examination we may be guilty of the same things, or worse. In a world of self-righteous finger pointers, we have need of men and women of integrity who are willing to examine their own lives more closely. Little effort or thought is required to speak harshly of another. However, the greater challenge is holding ourselves to a higher standard for the purpose of setting an example. Far better, sometimes, to hold our tongues and let our actions speak for themselves. Then, when we absolutely must speak, our words will carry all the more weight. Here, I defer to the expert who wrote the instruction manual on human living. In the book of Matthew, Jesus said the following: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5) I think that about covers it. Let us, therefore, live well and refrain from speaking too hastily about others ... lest we be judged by our own standards.

Lest Ye Be Judged
Judge not, lest ye be judged,
What others may say or do
For as you apply your standard to them
So it shall be measured to you
Where I find fault with another man
So fault shall be found with me
Each word I utter in judgement raises
My own responsibility
Judge not, lest ye be judged,
Show mercy as you would be shown
We dare not sit in the judgement seat
Which is reserved for God alone
Heap not the burning coals of wrath
Upon your own foolish head
By hastily judging another man
On what he has done or said
For all have fallen short of the mark
And failed by some degree
So what right have I to judge a man
Who is no more a sinner than me
Each man will have to answer to God
When he meets the Lord face to face
So rather than judge another man
Show grace as you would know grace
By Frank Carpenter ©