The measure We Use

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ..(Matthew 7:1-29).

We all know this verse well “judge not, that you be not judged.” Unfortunately, we do not try to understand the end of the next sentence, “For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

When we measure people, we use our past experiences, our own failures, times we have been duped or conned. The more people let us down, the harsher our measurement of the next person to come along. This is not what Jesus did.

Our Lord was treated badly, lied to, tested, scorned, and judged.  People called him a liar and a blasphemer, a con artist of the day. But Christ, when meeting and dealing with people who had done terrible things and would most likely have done them again without His love, forgave them and loved them.

How many chances has He given us? He forgives us our past and present mistakes and He continues to love us. He gave and continues to give everyone chance after chance to come to Him and to change their lives. Who are we to measure others by their past or even their present? The measure we use will be how we are also measured in the end.

Instead let us give chance after chance, no matter how many times we are let down. It may be that the sinful person just needs love they have never felt before. It may be that they just need someone to believe in them, to encourage them, or to guide them.

We are so blessed to know God that we should be able to suffer some of His pain in giving second, third and more chances to others.

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:1-5)

Let us be blunt with ourselves. Are we doing things we shouldn’t be doing and turning around and judging the person next to us for doing what they shouldn’t be doing?  Just because what someone else is doing is different from our sin doesn’t give us the right to measure them as failures and give up on them. We cannot measure others by our past experiences. Each situation is new, and each person is different. We may fear that we will be taken advantage of or that we are being lied to.

If we are taken advantage of, what does it matter?  What matters is that we do what God has called us to do in our hearts. As Christ gives many chances to those who struggle, but sincerely desire to change, let us give many chances also. We can not give up on people just because it hurts us. It is not about us.  It is about their salvation and whatever we can do to bring them into the family of God is what we must do. Only God knows the whole story of how a person became who they are and what they are struggling with.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. (Romans 14:10)

Often, we consider those who are still struggling as not worth our effort. We may decide to only associate with those who agree with us and who are no longer sinning. We may turn our backs on those who have let us down many times.  

But we must forget our own pain and give of ourselves even to those who hurt us by their supposed deceit. We are not that wise. Let God lead our hearts.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:16)

Prayer: God you know what our hearts long for and you know the hurt that some have caused us over and over again. Help us to forgive and to continue to love them.  We know we will be measured with the same measure we use. Help us to give them more chances in this life to become who you want them to be. Amen