Enough about you…what about me?

Matthew 7:1-5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 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. (ESV)

It would be impossible to expound this passage into a OneMinuteMinistry; the depth of this passage covers subject and huge struggle of any proclaiming Christian. The depth of our own sin is opened up, and the self-righteousness is openly addressed. The sin within us is quick to judge, standing on the platform of righteousness, using our own good will many times against us; then to complicate the depth of this passage even more, the Bible tells the saint to proclaim truth, to be the salt and light of the earth, and to not conform to the evil among us. The complexity of this passage demands a heart that continually seeks guidance, wisdom, and an abiding relationship with Jesus on a daily basis, to follow his lead as he speaks into our spirit regarding those he places before us. The sin within us prompts the opposite quick reactions standing on our own false regard; this battle is a continuous one until hopefully deep into the walk of God’s sanctification within us.

One of the hardest things I must do as a business owner is to find and address the faults of employees; this is for a long list of reasons, from everything of running a business, to the painful tasks of addressing personality traits and shortcomings. This is somewhat more difficult than terminating someone, because it makes people look within themselves, and they may harden their hearts with no change or improvement. It clearly in it’s simplest sense, makes me judge that person. Do you see how the Bible addresses this; how we must guard ourselves and look within ourselves before we pronounce judgement? It makes me think of the book of James, and how we may not see ourselves as others see us. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV) The writer of the first book of the New Testament, Jesus’ half brother, was clearly addressing those that proclaim Christianity, but don’t act or live like it; one’s that may sit on a false self-righteousness and judge others, openly, as in the context of James passage. Men I admire, Godly men, have given me advice such as this: “There is more to see than what you see.” “If you had any idea what goes on in my head, you would never listen to me.” We all struggle……..

You cannot even take a brief look at this passage and not address verse six of Matthew seven. 6 Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces. In the simplest understanding of this passage, we must grasp the level of evil in this world, those that openly reject the Gospel, and of how we must guard ourselves from them. The Holy Spirit must be our inner guide, to flee or to engage, and only the prepared may engage with the strength He provides. Do not judge those evil among you, move on and tell them you will pray for them. Only God can turn the wicked, but God can protect you from them too. In all things, the depth of the saint’s judgement is relative and reliant on their daily walk and pursuit of God in prayer and his Word.