The other day, I was complaining to my wife about how I hated this damp, cold weather. We got into a discussion about how my complaint might sound to others like I was saying, “d*** cold weather.”
I am so thankful that God sees our hearts and knows our motives.
I also read this week about a couple in Colorado who, while staying at a ski resort, received a nasty letter under their door. The complaint was about a crying baby who happened to be cutting teeth and caused the folks next door to lose some sleep. The thinking was that this couple was inconsiderate by bringing this spoiled child with them instead of leaving him behind.
The truth of the matter is that the father, who was a brain surgeon and having to neglect his family due to his busy schedule, was there for a conference and had the chance to bring his family along. It just so happened that while they were there, the baby started cutting teeth and they were having to deal with it the best they could. The people next door, not knowing what was going on and the circumstances surrounding it, jumped to conclusions and judged unfairly.
The Bible, in several places, addresses this issue of judging. First, God does not look at situations like mankind sometimes does. In I Samuel 16:7, it says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We sometimes jump to conclusions and think we know the facts but we cannot see into the heart and know the intentions.
Secondly, we need to understand that others will judge us by how we judge others. Matthew 7:2 says, “For in the same way you judge other, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” In other words, how we judge others is how we should be expecting others to judge us.
The next time, and there will be a next time, that someone says something or does something you don’t like, give them the benefit of the doubt and understand that everything is not what it seems.