Judgement vs. Cheeseburger
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. Matthew 7:1-2
I don’t really like this verse very much. Just sayin’! I confess, I tend to be very judgmental. I look at others through the eyes of neatness, style, words, and deeds. Please understand that I know it is a bad habit and I am working on improving in this area. I think it is our human nature, but nevertheless, it is sinful. Sharon Hinck, (Mornings with Jesus) shares her own thoughts about this topic.
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It had been a tough week: work pressures, health challenges, and a whole lot of discouragement. By the time Friday rolled around, the only comfort measure I craved was a juicy cheeseburger from a local restaurant.
My husband and I had been trying to eat healthy, but a kale salad just wouldn’t do the trick. I grappled with whether to take him up on his offer to make a cheeseburger and French fry run.
My daughter looked at me with compassion and said, “No judgment, Mom.” A weight lifted from my shoulders. Her approval reminded me that I didn’t need to beat myself up for an occasional slip.
The relief of not being judged made me ponder how often I’d judged someone else in the past week. The friend pursuing alternative health ideas that I didn’t trust. The parents struggling with an unruly child. Or the time I rearranged the dishes in the dishwasher after my husband loaded it. Critiquing the choices of others comes far too easily.
When Jesus invites me to step away from judgment, He isn’t saying that my moral choices don’t matter or that I can’t have an opinion. But He is calling me to examine being unduly critical of people who do things in a different way. He invites me to recognize the freedom that comes from being accepted and accepting others—especially when an occasional Friday night cheeseburger is involved.
FAITH STEP: Think about a time when you found fault with someone else’s choices. Ask Jesus to give you a heart of love and understanding.
Loving Lord, thank You for Your patience. We are often so critical of others and the choices that differ from ours. Teach us to mind our own business and look at others through Your eyes. AMEN.