Our scripture this morning is Romans 2:1-6.
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will repay each person according to what they have done.
Paul writes that by judging each other we judge ourselves, echoing a teaching from Jesus “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Both are warning us against our tendency to compare others to our own standards, and that whatever standard we apply will also be applied to us. Instead of judging each other we must concentrate on achieving God’s standards ourselves and leave the judging to Him.
This is hard in a human world that thrives on comparing things and people. We shake our heads at how much people make or what they spend it on. We complain about too much or too little government action on issues. We make decisions about others without all the facts.
The only standard we need and the only comparison we should ever make is between ourselves and Jesus. Are we loving and sharing as He did? That is the most difficult judging we will ever do and the one we are most reluctant to accomplish.
Gracious God, we are thankful that You judge us all fairly by the standard Jesus showed for us. Help us to love each other as You first loved us. Amen.