In the last few messages we have
discussed James 4. Our next passage should also be read in context with the
previous passages we have already discussed.
“Brothers, do not
slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks
against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,
but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one
Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are
you to judge your neighbour?” (James 4:11-12)
One can imagine that when the people
received this letter from James and read about friendship with the world that
is hatred toward God, and the command to wash their hands and purify their
hearts (James 4:1-9), that their first reaction could be to first see and judge
the sin of their neighbour, like the sinful nature tends to do. Through the
Holy Spirit James obviously realised this and prepared them not to do it, but
to rather look to themselves. Like James put it; we either keep the law or we
judge it. If we judge the law, in other words decide whether it is acceptable
and actually applicable to our situation or even whether it is fair, we will
not keep it until we have decided
according to our judgement whether it
is acceptable.
James probably meant the law of the
Lord, but this could apply to any form of law that governs our lives, which
could be social laws or the law of the country we live in, which is supported
by God since Romans 13:1 tells us: “Everyone must submit himself to the
governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has
established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” If we
therefore justify ourselves through judging others, we exalt ourselves above
others and the laws that the Lord uses to govern our lives, and thus “whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” (Matthew
23:12). Jesus also commanded in Matthew 7:1-2:”Do not judge, or you too will be
judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” All these commands involve self-centred
judgement where we as individuals decide whether someone does right or wrong
and it affects individual relationships and our eternal destiny.
However, there are situations where
we have to judge whether someone pretends to be godly and are not, or do
something they should not do, so we could know how to approach them with the
gospel message or a warning. “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault,
just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother
over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that
‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses,’”
(Matthew 18:15-16).
We also read in 1 Corinthians 6:1-3:
“If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly
for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the
saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent
to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels?
How much more the things of this life!”
The judgement the Lord is concerned
about is judgement that involves benefitting ourselves at the cost of Kingdom
relationships. We need wisdom from above and careful self-assessment to watch
our minds and tongues in this respect. When someone sins and we feel judgement
in our hearts towards such a person, we need to carefully assess the motive of
our reaction towards such judgement of behaviour. Are we prepared to approach
such a person to discuss their error with them with the view to help them as
the Bible commands us, or are we going into intense prayer for them so the Lord
could save them (1 John 5:16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%205:16&version=NIV1984) or do we gossip
and criticize to make ourselves feel better?
Lord, please help me to respond
wisely according to your commands.
Thank you Lord that your Word went
out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you
empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which
you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may
benefit by it.
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