When you look at others, do you see their faults or their strong points? Do you focus on their heart or the things you don’t like?

Here’s what I see. I’ve observed a lot of judgment going on. Now please hear me because this is a topic not discussed very often, but it’s a huge problem.

Of course, believers are held to higher standards than the rest of the world, and that includes judging others.

The world judges. We shouldn’t!

Judging hurts and causes division. It can ruin a relationship and destroy any chance of sharing Christ.

The other day, I felt judged by someone. After I heard what she said about me, I thought, “How does she know what I’ve gone through? Has she walked in my shoes?” I may not have handled a situation the way she would have, but then again, she doesn’t know my situation.

People are so quick to pass judgment. People are notorious about viewing someone else’s problem and neglecting to look at their own.

Obviously the church at Rome had the same problem. Paul said, “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” (Romans 14:10).

How true that is. In the end, we aren’t going to be held accountable for someone else’s actions, but we will be held accountable for our own. This tells me that we need to focus on ourselves, rather than on others.

In my opinion, the church has come a long way on judgment. However, I think it’s very prevalent in many believers. Just because we’re not expressing it out loud, does not mean that we’re not judging. We can still judge with our eyes and our minds.

I’m guilty of this. In fact, I’m speaking to myself as much as I’m speaking to you.

So, why do we judge others? I think it’s a deficiency issue. Those prone to judge usually have deep-seated things ruling like insecurity, lack of confidence, and unhealthy views of themselves.

Therefore, we need to first figure out what’s causing it and then find healing in Christ.

We need wholeness – completeness – in Christ. When we become complete in Christ, we will then focus on the good things in people instead of the negative things because we will be sufficient in Christ. We will lack nothing.

No one can do this for you or me. Christ is the only one who can give us everything we need. John 15 tells us that Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. In order for the branch to survive it must stay connected to the vine. The vine gives the branch every bit of nourishment it needs to thrive. We are the same.

Our nourishment, our sustenance, should come from Christ.

Paul also tells the church at Rome: “Whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God” (Romans 14:22).

Let’s be careful not to spread gossip out of our own need to feel good. Let’s keep our negative thoughts to ourselves and bring them before God. God can change our heart and our focus.

Allow Jesus to release you from whatever is causing you to judge others. Find your sufficiency in Christ!

Please pass this message on.

Blessings,