Who do you despise? Are you aware of it consciously? Without realizing it, some believers despise unbelievers. A self-righteous attitude creeps in when believers take on an āus versus themā view of life. They begin to judge others for their attitudes, actions and words they use. They forget they themselves were once sinners, and take on an air of superiority. They look down on anyone who doesnāt live up to their standards, which they donāt even keep; in fact, they cannot live up to them either. How does this attitude align with Godās nature? Does God despise anyone? After all, He genuinely is superior to everyone!
Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any (but despises no one): He is mighty in strength and wisdom. Again, God is superior in every way imaginable, indeed, beyond our imagination. He is Love and because He loves, He reconciled us unto Himself through Jesus, not inputting our sins against us (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). If God decided to hold us accountable instead of forgiving us, Jesus would have never come. Why did He come? For Loveās sake. Love does not despise!
Letās take this one step farther. How many despise fellow believers because they donāt know as much; are not āspiritual enoughā; or, because theyāre from another denomination or have a different affiliation? For those who despise others: you are not being spiritual; you are being carnal (see 1 Corinthians 3:3). Question: does despising others cause division? Of course it does. So, why is there division in the Body of Christ? Think about it.
Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.
Jesus humbled Himself and took on, not only the form of man, but of a Servant. He stepped into our shoes and walked in them without sinning. He empathizes with us; He does not despise us.
Hereās a take away: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations . . . Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand . . . But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ . . . Let us not therefore judge one another any more . . . Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another . . . (Romans 12:1-23). We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself . . . Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God (Romans 15:1-7). Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself (Galatians 6:2-3).
If we love God and truly are Kingdom minded, how can any of us despise another? If you despise others, are you holding them in unforgiveness?
