NARROWLY JUDGING OR FREELY GIVING?

 

Narrowly Judging or Freely Giving? 

Toni Babcock

“Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together; and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you,” (Luke 6:37-38 CSB).

It’s so much easier to judge the fallen caught in the grip of sin, than to freely give the kind of underserved kindness that can lead to their deliverance. 

Yes, it’s so much easier to judge them because that’s the safe and easy route. 

It’s a convenient defense mechanism. 

It puts us in a position over and above the one who has “made a mess out of their lives” where they can’t touch us.

When we choose to use the measure, God is calling us to use, it calls for involvement through self-sacrifice, humility, and forgiveness. 

It calls us to lay aside bitterness, prejudice and suspicion, and to exercise faith and hope in the power of God to transform a life. 

It calls us to enable the power of God to work through active prayer and faith instead of becoming paranoid about becoming an “enabler” in the negative sense.

Coming alongside someone to let them know you are praying for them and showing the love of Christ through supportive and tangible ways does not automatically translate into becoming an “enabler.” 

Especially when our goal is to get the person the spiritual and physical resources, they need to recover from whatever it is holding them in bondage. 

Ask yourself this, do I judge narrowly, or do I freely give?

Toni M. Babcock is the author of Reflections from the Heart and The Stone Writer. Contact