No Time To Judge

Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Acceptance of the faults and weaknesses of others is a major step toward developing relationships with them. Accepting and approving are two different things. I may not approve of some choices that some people make, but I can love and care for them as human beings and fellow creations of God. Someone said, “There is little room left for wisdom when one is full of judgment.” Paul wrote to the Roman church, “For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'” (Romans 14:9-11) We are not to judge each other because Jesus Christ is our judge. He is the only one who has the flawless ability to render a true judgment. It is not wrong to recognize sin, nor to encourage people to leave their life of sin. That is the good news of the gospel. But when we view people only on the basis of what they do, rather than who they are, then we are sitting in the judgment seat where only God should sit. I do not think He needs our help, do you? Next time you are tempted to judge someone, ask yourself: “where would I be if it were not for the grace of God?” The answer to that question is enough to let you know that all you have belongs to Him. You are in no position at all to judge someone else.