Before You Judge Others
ICS Daily Devotions
3 John 1-2 (NKJV) The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
In the above Scripture, the Apostle John prayed that Gaius would prosper in “all things.” Biblical prosperity is more than just money; it is holistic and includes having good relationships with people. This is the abundant life that God wants us to enjoy.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NKJV) “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Have you ever tried to change your spouse? Perhaps it is an attempt to change them, or a constant effort to remind them how inadequate they are. This is trying to remove the “speck in the other person’s eye”. Not only is this causing strain in the relationship, unknowingly, we are becoming self-righteous, pharisaic people. Jesus asked us not to do it and to remove the “plank in your own eye”. We should not be judgemental about others’ actions, speech, attitudes, flaws, and weaknesses. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. It is easier to judge others against a perceived standard, yet we fail to apply the same standard to ourselves. Our souls, in both our emotional and spiritual lives, do not prosper if we constantly bicker and judge others, especially our loved ones. We are causing stress for others by being critical of them, and we get all worked up when they do not heed our corrections.
We are not prospering in our souls if we continue to live in this manner. Jesus said we should leave them alone, and instead begin to adjust our own weaknesses and sins. We are to deal with the plank in our own eyes rather than keep looking at others’ faults. Knowing that we, too, are imperfect and have flaws and weaknesses keeps us humble.
Living a consecrated life is a lifelong journey, and we must deal with the work of the flesh until we die. Believers with God’s nature in them are capable of loving, forgiving, extending grace, being merciful, and doing good because God is love and good. Those who do evil will be vindictive, bitter, angry, making life miserable for others. If we want our souls to prosper, we must reign in the flesh, and walk in the Spirit by putting on the “new man” rather than allowing our old selves to dictate our lives.
Sermon Series: Prospering In All Things
