Don’t Be Judgmental

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

—MOTHER TERESA

[My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor and judge [of it].

—James 4:11

When we judge someone, we pass sentence upon them and only God has the right to do that. One definition I’ve heard says that judgment is setting oneself up as God. I don’t think any of us really want that job, do we? It is very easy to glance at someone or at a situation and quickly judge without really knowing anything at all. God not only knows what someone is doing, He knows why they are doing it. We judge according to the flesh, but God sees the heart.

Jesus told those who were ready to stone the woman caught in adultery that whoever among them was without sin could throw the first stone. After they took time to consider what He said, they all dropped their rocks at their feet and left, one by one. Who among us can say we have no sin? How then can we be so quick to judge other people for their mistakes? We can judge sin, but we cannot judge the heart of a person. The more we study God’s Word, the quicker we will recognize wrongdoing, but we must not let that turn into a habit of judging everyone who does not do what they should be doing. Once again, we need to follow God’s Word and “watch and pray.” Don’t watch and judge, but watch and pray! Treat others the way you want to be treated and watch life get sweeter.

Each time we judge, whether for good or for bad, we sow a seed that produces a harvest in our own lives. If we are critical and merciless, we will be judged in the same way, but if we give mercy we will reap mercy. We have the ability to love people and should do so because that is the one commandment Jesus left. He said, “Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another” (John 13:34; see also John 15:12).

Being quick to judge is another symptom of pride, and the Bible teaches us that pride always comes before destruction and downfall, but humility preceeds honor (see Proverbs 18:12). If we want trouble, we can continue being judgmental, but if we want honor we can have a humble attitude. The choice is ours.