Judgment Days
Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments. Proverbs 8:14-16
Part of God’s plan for my life is helping my grandchildren grow in their faith. One of them was having an issue with her father. She felt comfortable talking to me, but when I brought up the idea of speaking with her grandmother, she hesitated. I asked her why that was the case. “Grandmom judges me.” I pointed out that I must do the same, and she replied, “No, you don’t.” After further conversation, I came to realize what she was getting at was that her grandmother was very direct in correcting her missteps, and I was very nurturing and understanding. It was eye-opening in that she saw things that way, and my wife and I were happy to help her see things the right way.
The conversation got me thinking about judgment. As Christians, we are often challenged with this seemingly difficult task of avoiding judgment as Jesus says, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) However, we are tasked to make judgments all the time. The trick is to understand that judgment is twofold. We are tasked not to judge others but to judge actions and when making decisions. But even in the judgments we make, it is important that we are using God as a compass so that we can make righteous judgments.
Sound judgment begins and ends with God’s input. Proverbs 8 reminds us where righteous judgment begins. It is not in our personal preferences, past experiences, or emotional reactions, but in God Himself. It is noteworthy in today’s verses the order that key words are utilized: common sense, insight, and strength. As we follow God and trust in His word, He gives us wisdom, discernment, and character. We are never instructed to shut down discernment. We are instructed to surrender it. This can often create conflict within us when our wants conflict with His. Yet, if we trust in God we can trust we are doing the right thing. Thus, we don’t abandon decision-making. We align it with His.
Furthermore, we find that Jesus too instructs us on using judging. He clarifies this saying, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” (John 7:24, NLT) Merging what He says in Matthew 7:1, the message is Jesus saying to not make shallow judgments, label people as finished stories, and mistake a moment for one’s whole identity. In short, we are to judge rightly, not rashly.
Thus, righteous judgment can be three things. It confronts behavior without condemning the soul. It speaks truth without forfeiting grace, and it corrects without crushing. I mentioned that judgment is twofold. It is both corrective and restorative.
Having God in our corner is so reassuring! He gives us a perfect balance between His law and His love. Think about the people God placed either us or others very different from us in a child’s life or a coworker’s or spouse’s because judgment anchored in wisdom needs both firmness and nurture. God’s wisdom can speak through a stern voice of truth or a soft voice of compassion, and sometimes the most righteous judgment comes through a combination of both. Let us ask God for both balance and discernment as to what is needed when we need to make a judgment call. When I judge situations, do I invite God’s wisdom or assume my own experience is enough? Who in my life needs a judgment rooted in grace more than opinion this week? My prayer is that God would give us wisdom from above so that every judgment we make reflects His truth, His grace, and His heart. Amen.