I always hear a lot about this subject and I always get a lot of heat for it as well. People believe that it's a terrible thing to judge. Using “judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1) as their justification. In some cases they are right. Judging is bad, but over all its not. We make judgments everyday, that’s how we know what is good for us and what is bad for us. Judging in life is very important and God and the authorsof the bible stress it greatly. We have to not be afraid to do what the bible tellsus to do. So lets get into this.
So first lets talk about what judging is dictionarywise:
Judging:
1.To form an opinion through careful weighing ofevidence and testing of premises
2. To form an estimate or evaluation of;especially: to form a negative opinion about
3.To hold as an opinion
(Those were all taken from http://www.merriam-webster.com)
Of course many will go directly to number four where it talks aboutnegative judgment, but lets open our minds and explore the truth that lies within it biblically.
There are 3 different types of judging (judging ourselves, judging others, and God's judgement on us) so lets break them down.
1. Judgingourselves:
we should always, ALWAYS spend time on this. Actually its like the MOST important and the most stressed
But if we judged ourselves, we should not be judged (1Corinthians 11:31)
What this means is that if we judge ourselves and correct us then no one will be able to come back and say, "well how are you gonna tell me about me and your doing the same thing?" when you judge yourself then you can avoid that, because you wouldn't be doing it in the first place! judging yourself takes away peoples ability to judge you.
So what things about OURSELVES should we judge?
1. The way we talk, A lot of people believe that what they say really doesn't matter but they do, and they mainly affect yourself. What you say towards others hoping to hurt them could turn back to you. You keep cussing your boss, dont be mad the day he says "YOUR FIRED!'
"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." (Matthew 12:34-37)
2. Your attitude, I think the above scripture kinda touched on that indirectly, but we need to stop being such HOT HEADS. You popping off every 5 seconds isn't cool. If you fix that people will want to be around you more. Don't let this be what keeps you from being successful. Judge your attitude, is it positive or is it negative? Don't be like moses who was mad at the people complaining about water ( I mean low key who wouldn't be thirsty after walking around the desert for FOURTY years?),he was so affected by it he went totally against God and beat the water out of the rocks instead of speaking to them like God said to. He even called the peoples rebels. You could hear it all in his voice Im sure when he spoke to them saying "hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water or of this rock?" Number 20:10. Its funny I was just looking on twitter and someone posted a tweet saying "Don’t confuse my personality with my attitude , my personality is who I am, my attitude depends on who you are !" thats so not true! you determine what your attitude is. Someone only annoys you or makes you act out of character if you let them. You have COMPLETE control over what affects you or not.
3. The things you do ( I really need to speed this up HA!)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
I think this is self explanatory, you should be doing everything to honor God, and nothing less of that. Are you a good steward of your time and money ( this is judging by definition one that we discussed before). Are you utilizing the time you have been provided to accomplish everything that you need to for the day rather than wasting it doing nothing? Are you using your money wisely,paying your tithes and offering and buying things you NEED before things you want? Are you keeping your self in good standing, if you still have your chastity or are celibate are you judging the situations you place yourself in as to not violate those lines? ( I really hope and pray that you are being very careful *STAY STRONG, God will bring you who he has for you when you both are ready. Be patient!*) Do you weigh the outcomes to taking drugs if you do them and how will they affect your life? Do you even think of how what you do will affect your future children? Cause it will. Are YOU being the example for the next generation to thrive off of?
4. Judge your heart. You should abstain from listening to your heart. Your heart will definitely lead you in the wrong direction every time if it isn't filled with Gods word, will, and love (read your bibles, spend time with him, and meditate on his word) and even then you should still judge what it does.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander Matthew 15:19
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9
The last one basically means that if you choose to "follow your heart" just know that you will be judged by what you do, especially if it complies with the first verse. The bible tells us to guard our heart in proverbs 4:23. The bible TELLS us to TRUST in the Lord with all of your heart, your heart doesn't naturally trust. Jesus even told us to"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" matthew 22:37 You have learn to love or else Jesus wouldn't have to tell you to do it thats important that it says that, you can deduce that the heart is not naturally in a state to lead you into the right decisions. You have to actively make your heart do right.
These things all benefit you, the only thing that may be hard with it is being able to look at yourself and tell yourself the truth. If you lie to you then self-judgement is of no use and you end up making rash decisions, or put yourself in terrible positions/situations. So don't be afraid to judge yourself. You have to look with in you if you want to change you. Im gonna end this part with the verse that I mentioned in the very beginning
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
~Chelsee<3
4. Judge your heart. You should abstain from listening to your heart. Your heart will definitely lead you in the wrong direction every time if it isn't filled with Gods word, will, and love (read your bibles, spend time with him, and meditate on his word) and even then you should still judge what it does.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander Matthew 15:19
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9
The last one basically means that if you choose to "follow your heart" just know that you will be judged by what you do, especially if it complies with the first verse. The bible tells us to guard our heart in proverbs 4:23. The bible TELLS us to TRUST in the Lord with all of your heart, your heart doesn't naturally trust. Jesus even told us to"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" matthew 22:37 You have learn to love or else Jesus wouldn't have to tell you to do it thats important that it says that, you can deduce that the heart is not naturally in a state to lead you into the right decisions. You have to actively make your heart do right.
These things all benefit you, the only thing that may be hard with it is being able to look at yourself and tell yourself the truth. If you lie to you then self-judgement is of no use and you end up making rash decisions, or put yourself in terrible positions/situations. So don't be afraid to judge yourself. You have to look with in you if you want to change you. Im gonna end this part with the verse that I mentioned in the very beginning
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.(B) 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(C)
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5NIV
key- "FIRST take the plank out of your OWN eye, THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"
In the next part I will talk about how we are to judge others. Sorry this was so long, it could have been longer but i figured this would be enough to get the point across. I cant promise the next one wont be short either, cause there is definitely a lot to cover. But until then remember:
~Chelsee<3
