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ACTING AS JUDGE (17)

by Stephen Whitney

Scripture: James 4:11-12
This content is part of a series.


Title: ACTING AS JUDGE (17)
Series: James
Scripture: James 4:11-12
Author: Stephen Whitney

It seems that our human nature is always ready to jump to negative conclusions about people rather than to believe the best about them. Harry Ironside told the story about an incident in the life
of the Episcopal Bishop Potter. He was sailing to Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board,he found that he was to share the cabin with another passenger.

After going to see the room, he came up to the steward's desk and asked if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe. He explained that usually he never used the privilege, but that he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was going to occupy it with him.

Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person and so he wanted his valuables kept in the safe on board the ship.

The steward accepted the valuables and then said, "It's all right,
Bishop, I'll be glad to take care of them for you. The other man
has also been up here and left his for the very same reason."

It is easy to jump to conclusions and judge other people when we don't know the facts or circumstances behind what they did.

Why is it we judge other people:
1. We don't get what we want.
2. We don't like the other person.
3. We want to feel better than them.
4. We don't like their success.
5. We don't like their attitude.
6. We don't like what they do.
7. We are angry with them.
8. We feel threatened by them.
9. We are jealous of them.
10. We have been hurt by them.

WE JUDGE OTHERS :11
Condemnation
What we think in our heart about someone is often revealed
in our speech by what we say about them publicly.

Do not speak evil - Gk. speech intended to harm someone.
It was usually used of criticism against someone not present.
NIV - slander, GNB - criticize, NCV - tell evil lies.
Note: this ph ...

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