Table of Contents
Why Worry About Man’s Judgment?
Why do people fear being judged by others? So many are paralyzed by this phobia. It hinders them from conforming to the image of Jesus, fulfilling their calling, speaking truth, and the list goes on. The are various levels of this fear, which range from the anxiety of performing in front of others, to fear of their condemnation should one color outside of the lines. It’s as if they believe humanity is on the same level as God, and another person’s thoughts carry the same weight as His.
Perhaps, they feel the condemnation of others overrides the grace and mercy of God. They seem to fear man’s condemnation more than God’s. Jesus pointed out that giving more honor to others affects our ability to believe.
John 5:43-44 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
What Do People Really Know?
Do we truly know the thoughts and intents of others? For instance, someone may condemn another for a mistake he made, even though the person’s intent was pure. Things simply went awry; yet, someone needles the person’s character without knowing the heart of the individual.
Unless God reveals the ending from the beginning, none of us truly know the end result of another’s life. Sure, there may be indicators such as one’s life-history; however, history does not necessarily dictate one’s future. For example, “He’s evil, and he will never change.” Have you ever been surprised by someone’s repentance and conversion? You know, the one you wrote off as lost forever? People do repent. Are we willing to see them change for the better, or do we desire them to remain the same? If yes, why?
It Truly is a Small Thing to be Judged by Others
1 Corinthians 4:3-5 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Paul reveals an attitude we might want to carry: “it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment.” In the end, all of us will be facing the Lord, Himself. No one else will have any input, so what does it matter if others judge us? In fact, we can ill afford to judge ourselves. When we boil things down, it doesn’t matter what any of us think; it matters what He thinks. His Word and judgment are final; ours, not so much.
