Day 16. Judging of Others
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"Do not judge — or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1
Few faults are more common than this 'judging of others'. It would not be so bad if we were disposed to look at people charitably; but we are not. Our eyes are far keener for flaws and blemishes — than for marks of beauty. Not many of us are forever finding new features of loveliness in others; not a few of us can find an indefinite number of faults.
If we were ourselves up to the standard whereby we judge others — we would be very saintly people! If we were free from all the faults we so readily see when they appear in our neighbour — we would be well-near faultless.
This word of our Lord not only instructs us not to be critical and censorious of others — but it presents the strongest kind of motive against such judging. It makes the appeal to our own interest.
None of us like other people to be critical and censorious toward us. We wince under unjust judgements. We resent unkind fault-finding. We demand that people shall judge us fairly. We claim forbearance and charity in our defects in duty, and for blemishes in our character. Can we expect other people to be any more lenient towards us — than we are toward them?
If we would receive kindly judgement from others — we must give the same to them. If we criticize another today in a harsh manner — we need not be surprised if we hear someone's harsh criticism of us tomorrow. But if, on the other hand, we speak kindly, appreciative, and charitable words of someone today — very likely we shall hear tomorrow some pleasant word that another has said of us.
So we make very largely, the music or the discord for our own hearts. We get back — what we give out. We gather the harvest of our own sowing. Then, even in the last judgement, we shall receive from the Judge — just what we have shown to others.
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