Helpfinder Sampler - Flipbook - Page 14
on others
is second
nature
to most
a child
acting
up
J O B 5 :2judgment
7 ; 3 8 :4 | “We
have studied
life and
found
all thisoftous.
beWe
true.see
Listen
to my
counsel,
•Passing
and and
condemn
discipline.
up for what
he earth?”
believes
apply itthe
to parent
yourself.for
. . poor
. Where
were youSomeone
when I laidspeaks
the foundations
of the
and Don’t
we instantly
him.
problem for
withyou
judging
is that we see
thequesperassumecategorize
that you have
allThe
the answers,
do notothers
even understand
all the
son’s
words
and
actions
a negative filter in our mind. Our perspective narrows
tions.
Only
God
knowsthrough
everything.
to include
only their faults when, really, it should be broad enough to include their good• J O H N 6 : 5 - 7 | Turning to Philip, [Jesus] asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all
ness, too. The Bible warns us against judging others. When we judge others, we assume
these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip
we know their thoughts and motives and are qualified to pronounce judgment. In reality,
replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”
only God can know a person’s heart. Before we jump to conclusions about someone, it
Don’t
assume your
problems
don’t have solutions,
for God
knows thejudged
solution
before
helps to remember
hurts
we’ve experienced
when others
wrongfully
us.
This your
will
problems arise.
broaden
our perspective toward people, ridding us of the negative filter that defiles their
I C L E S 1others
9 :2 - 3 |asDavid
said,
“I them,
am going
to showchildren
loyalty to
Hanunofbecause
hiskind• 1 C H R O NSeeing
reputation.
Jesus
sees
as God’s
worthy
love and
father,
Nahash,judgment
was always
loyal
to me.” So David sent messengers. . . . But when David’s
ness,
will replace
with
mercy.
ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun,
really think these
are coming
to honor
yourin
father?
No! David
has sent
How“Do
doyou
assumptions
hurtmen
people?
Whathere
is the
danger
making
assumptions?
out
so they
cometointhe
and
conquer
it!”
1 S A Mto
UEspy
L 1 :1
2 -the
1 5 land
| As she
wascan
praying
Lord,
Eli watched
her. Seeing her lips mov• them
J
HelpFinder
Don’t
in he
others;
you she
mayhad
miss
out drinking.
when they“Must
want you
to give
their
best
ing
butassume
hearingthe
noworst
sound,
thought
been
come
here
drunk?”
to you.
he
demanded. . . . “Oh no, sir!” she replied, “I haven’t been drinking. . . . I was pouring out
J O Sheart
H UA 2to
2 :1the
1 - 1Lord.”
6 , 2 1 -2 4 | The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and
• my
the
half-tribe
Manasseh presumes
had built an
altar at
. . . So athe
whole community
Sometimes
anofassumption
to know
anGeliloth.
answer before
question
is asked.
of
Israel gathered
at Shiloh
prepared
go toanother
war against
them.
First,
Assumptions
are often
unfairand
because
theyto
judge
person
before
the however,
facts are
known.
they
sent a delegation . . . to talk with the tribes. . . . When they arrived in the land of
. .only
. “The
community
of the
Lord
to hands
know why
youinare
J O B 1 1 :1they
3 - 1 4said
| “If
youwhole
would
prepare your
heart
anddemands
lift up your
to him
• Gilead,
betraying
of Israel.
. . . Then
people of
Reuben,
Gad, and the half-tribe of
prayer! Getthe
ridGod
of your
sins, and
leave the
all iniquity
behind
you.”
Manasseh
. . . We
have
built
the altar
treacherous
rebellion
against the
Sometimesanswered
an assumption
asks
thenot
right
question
butin
jumps
too quickly
to the wrong
Lord.
truth is
. . .”friends couldn’t explain why Job was suffering, so they assumed
answer.. .In. The
this case,
Job’s
he hadimmediately
sinned and assume
brought God’s
punishment
himself.you
They
were
thethe
right
quesDon’t
that someone
elseon
is wrong;
may
notasking
have all
facts
and
tion—why?—but
coming
up with
the wrong answer.
it
may be you who
are wrong
instead.
| “My
are nothing
like
your
thoughts,”
the Lord.
my ways
O HINA H3 :585 :|8 “Just
asthoughts
you can hear
the wind
but
can’t
tell wheresays
it comes
from“And
or where
it is
• IJSA
are
farso
beyond
anything
you
could
imagine.”
going,
you can’t
explain
how
people
are born of the Spirit.”
rarely
align themselves
with thethat
wayGod
Godshows
thinks.
you want to
AC T Snatural
1 0 :3 4 -assumptions
3 5 | Then Peter
replied,
“I see very clearly
noIffavoritism.
In
• Our
understand
God acts,
youwho
must
work
understand
how
he thinks.
every nationhow
he accepts
those
fear
himtoand
do what is
right.”
GE N
were
when
they
saw wide
that they
being taken
•
T SES1I 6S:2473-:13 80 || The
The brothers
jailer woke
up terrified
to see the
prison
doors
open.were
He assumed
the
• AC
into Joseph’s
“It’ssobecause
thesword
money
putBut
in our
sacks
last to
time
we
prisoners
hadhouse.
escaped,
he drewofhis
tosomeone
kill himself.
Paul
shouted
him,
were here,”
said. “HeWe
plans
thatjailer
we stole
it. Then
he will
seize
make us
“Stop!
Don’tthey
kill yourself!
areto
allpretend
here!” The
called
for lights
and
ran us,
to the
slaves, and
take
donkeys.”
dungeon
and
fellour
down
trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and
“Sirs,
mustAmmonite
I do to becommanders
saved?”
2 S A M UE
L 1 0what
:3 | The
said to Hanun, their master, “Do you really
• asked,
think these
men
aresomeone
coming here
torespond
honor your
father?
No!In
David
has
sent them
to spysinner
out
Don’t
assume
that
won’t
to the
gospel.
God’s
hands,
the worst
can
become
thecan
mightiest
leader.
the city
so they
come inChristian
and conquer
it!”
Fear can cause you to assume the worst about people and their intentions. If you consistently assume the worst about others, you can become suspicious and paranoid. You will
COR
I N T others
H I A N S as
4 :5you
| So
make
judgments
about anyone ahead of time—before
• 1also
hurt
trydon’t
to keep
away
from them.
What does God think of judging others?
theOLord
he will
bring
our to
darkest
secretsFor
to light
ourend
private
V E R Breturns.
S 2 5 :8 |For
Don’t
be in
a hurry
go to court.
whatand
will will
you reveal
do in the
if your
• PR
motives. Then
give to each
one whatever praise is due.
neighbor
dealsGod
you will
a shameful
defeat?
Be
very slow to
because
only
Godisisan
capable
of judging
perfectly
every time.
Assumptions
arejudge
oftenothers,
made too
quickly.
There
old saying,
“Haste
makes waste.”
Once
an opinion
to change
it. If you’ve
incorWhen you’ve
you areformed
too quick
to judgeabout
beforesomeone,
having allit’s
thedifficult
information,
you make
poor decirectly
formed
a
bad
opinion
about
someone,
you
may
think
negatively
about
that
person
sions that you later regret.
for years, damaging the possibility of any relationship.
• GE N ES I S 1 8 :1 2 | So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out
• RO MA N S 2 :1 | You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad,
woman like me enjoy such pleasure . . . ?”
and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are
Assumptions made from a human viewpoint lead to actions made only from a human
condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
viewpoint; this can close the door to God’s miracles in your life. When you are open to the
When
you condemn
others for
their life,
sin, you
Godbegin
sees your
hypocrisy
you haven’t
first clearly.
carepossibilities
of God working
in your
to see
his work ifaround
you more
fully
sins.life, but you must see your life from his perspective or else
God considered
promises toyour
workown
in your
E R Ewill
MI Abe
H 4blind
8 :2 7 to
| what
“Did you
ridicule
theand
people
of Israel?”
he isnot
doing
in you
through
you.
• Jyou
A judgmental
leads
us tobase
mistakenly
consider
morally superior
to others—
IAS TESspirit
10:13
| Fools
their thoughts
onourselves
foolish assumptions,
so their
• ECCLES
we deserve blessing,
they deserve
judgment. This displays dependence on our good
conclusions
will be wicked
madness.
deeds,
not God’s grace.
Wrong assumptions
lead to wrong conclusions. And wrong conclusions lead to wrong
1
S
AMUEL
• actions. 16:7 | But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height,
I have rejected
him. The
Lordwaste
doesn’t
seetime
things
the waydiscussion
you see them.
People
judge by
1:4 | Don’t
let them
their
in endless
of myths
and
• 1forTIMOTHY
outward appearance,
but the
Lord
looks
heart.”
spiritual
pedigrees. These
things
only
leadattothe
meaningless
speculations, which don’t help
God doesn’t
toinmake
people
live a want
life ofyou
faith
God.judgments based on outward appearance.
ITICUS
19:15
|
“Always
people fairly.”
• LEV
Wrong assumptions can leadjudge
to arguments
and even threaten our relationships with
others.you
When
wetoassume
are right,dowe
other
person is wrong, so we
When
have
make awe
judgment,
soalso
withassume
fairnessthe
and
integrity.
set out to prove our rightness and their wrongness. This puts us in the dangerous position
What
are theothers
consequences
judging
others?
of judging
and ascribingofguilt
to someone
who might not be guilty. It also makes us
foolish12:5when
assumptions
prove
S AMUEL
7 our
| David
was furious.
“Asincorrect.
surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man
• 2look
3:10—4:2
saw .to
. .die!
howHe
they
hadrepay
put afour
stoplambs
to their
evilpoor
ways,
he for
• JON
whoAH
would
do such| aWhen
thingGod
deserves
must
to the
man
changed
mind
and
not carry
outThen
the destruction
hetohad
threatened.
the one hehis
stole
and
fordid
having
no pity.”
Nathan said
David,
“You areThis
that change
man!”
of
plans
upset
Jonah,others,
and heyou
became
very
angry.
So of
he the
complained
to the Lord
If you
aregreatly
too quick
to judge
may be
found
guilty
same things.
it. 7:2 | “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in
MATTHEW
• about
ACTS 9:13
| “But
Lord,”byexclaimed
“I’ve heard many people talk about the
• judging
is the
standard
which youAnanias,
will be judged.”
terrible
things
this
man
has
done
to
the
believers
in be
Jerusalem!”
judged. Do not condemn others, or
• LUKE 6:37 | “Do not judge others, and you will not
Sometimes
an assumption
you toothers,
give upand
on people
of seeing them
it will all come
back againstcauses
you. Forgive
you willinstead
be forgiven.”
through God’s eyes. Jonah assumed that the Ninevites could never be saved. Ananias
You will be judged by the same standard you use, so it’s better to be merciful and forgiving
assumed Paul could never be redeemed. When you judge others spiritually, you doubt
than harsh and critical.
that almighty God has the power to change lives.
J
Judging Others continued
page A191
A189
What’s the difference between judging others and constructive criticism?
What are some assumptions I should avoid? What should I not assume?
• COLOS S IAN S 3:13 | Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who
• JOHN 14:6 | Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the
offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Father except through me.”
S 6:1 | Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin,
• GALATIAN
Don’t just assume you will go to heaven. The Bible says the only way to heaven is by
you
who are
godlyChrist
should
accepting
Jesus
as gently
Saviorand
andhumbly
Lord. help that person back onto the right path.
And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
ROMAN
S
5:8
|
God
showed
his
great
love
for us by sending Christ to die for us while we
•
One coach berates a player publicly for a mistake made in the game. Another coach
were still sinners.
waits until the game is over and addresses the player privately with instruction about how
6:30 |the
“And
if God
caresagain.
so wonderfully
wildflowers
that are here
today
and
• MATTHEW
to avoid making
same
mistake
While nofor
one
likes criticism—even
when
it is
thrown into the fire sometimes
tomorrow, he
willit.
certainly
foreasier
you. Why
do youcriticism
have so little
constructive—you
need
But it iscare
much
to receive
whenfaith?”
it is
love
rather
thanand
harshly
to humiliate.
To judge
is to criti1 P ETERgently
5:7 | and
Giveinall
your
worries
caresand
to God,
for he cares
aboutsomeone
you.
• offered
cize with no effort to see that person succeed or improve. To offer constructive criticism
Don’t assume God doesn’t care, for evidence shows he clearly does.
is to invest in another for the purpose of building a relationship and helping that person
GES 6:13
| “Sir,”God
Gideon
replied,
“ifher
the to
Lord
• JUD
become
the person
created
him or
be. is with us, why has all this happened to
us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord
brought
P R O M us
I Sup
E SoutFof
R Egypt’?
O M G But
O D now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to
the Midianites.”
7:1 | “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”
• MATTHEW
Don’t assume God won’t help you or doesn’t want to help you, for he has already done so
THIANthan
S 4:5you
| So
don’tand
make
about
ahead
time—before
• 1in CORIN
more ways
know,
he judgments
will continue
to doanyone
so. And
don’tof
assume
you know
better
than
God how
to fix
problems.
the Lord
returns.
For he
willyour
bring
our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private
motives.
Then
will give
to each
one whatever
praise
is they
due. saw the man who had
8:3536 God
| A crowd
soon
gathered
around Jesus,
and
• LUKE
been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane,
and they were allSee
afraid.
Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the
Judgment
Justice
demon-possessed man had been healed.
Don’t assume people can’t change; God’s power can change anyone.
Justice
See also Accountability; Fairness; Obedience; Sin; Truth
• EXOD US 18:14, 21- 22 | When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the
people,
hewrong
asked,us,
“What
are out
you for
really
accomplishing
Why
arewe
youcry
trying
all
When
others
we cry
justice.
When wehere?
wrong
God,
out to
fordomercy.
this alone.
. . . is
But
select from
the don’t
peopleaccept
some capable,
honest
who fear God
and
Fortunately,
God
merciful.
Butall
if we
his merciful
giftmen
of salvation,
we are
hateto
bribes.
as leaders over
groups. death
. . . They
will
help you carry
load,
subject
God’sAppoint
justice,them
the punishment
of eternal
and
separation
fromthe
God.
Until
easier
for you.”where perfect justice prevails, justice will continue to
Godmaking
sets upthe
histask
eternal
kingdom,
be needed
here on
earth—both
God’s
urge
us toward
hisdokingdom,
earthly
Don’t assume
that
only you can
do ajustice
certain to
job,
for others
might
better. Weand
all can
law and
order
keep
fromofruling.
benefit
fromtothe
helpanarchy
and advice
others.But we would do well to learn some lessons
HelpFinder
page A190
A188
