Do not Judge

Last time, we discussed what effect pride has on our behavior and the need to be humble.

Do Not Judge a Brother

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

What does speaking evil of another accomplish? Creates Division!

2 Cor 12:20 - For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

Eph 4:31 - Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

1 Pet 2:1-3 - Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The ultimate reason for not speaking against one another is laid out in Leviticus.

Lev 19:18 - You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

judges his brother – The Greek word for judges (krino) means to pass judgement – slightly different connotation than just judges -

speaks evil of the law and judges the law – you are speaking against the law of Moses

you are not a doer of the law but a judge - And you are setting yourself as being above the law – you become the law. And we need to remember there is only one lawgiver – G-d.

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;

Isn’t that what we like to do? Plan – plan for the future, retirement, whatever.

Do we make G-d part of this equation?

This kind of planning also sounds like the “I will” of Lucifer in Is 14:13 – 14. No thought for what G-d has planned for you.

Is 14:13-14 - For you have said in your heart:

‘I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,

I will be like the Most High

Jer 1:5 - Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

Before you were born I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Is 36:5 – I say you speak of having plans and power for war; but they are mere words. Now in whom do you trust, that you rebel against me?

Do we want to go against G-d?

14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Luke 12:19-21 - And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Kinda gives us perspective –

1 Pet 1:24-25 - because

“All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.

15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

I think part of this message is to relax, and give our lives and the direction of our lives over to the Lord.

16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

The overall problem is they were taking pride in their plans – and boasting about it – and not concerned about what G-d’s plan is. And – that is what is evil – forgetting G-d.

The NBC: James’s criticism is that they are in fact carrying on business just the way every other merchant does. As Christians they should be well aware of not only the uncertainties of the future, but also who controls it.

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Luke 12:47 - And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Seems harsh doesn’t?

This is tough – it hits home – we know what we should do, but we don’t. We need to do what is right, even if it isn’t easy.

We need to be confessing that sin daily.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now, I wanted to get into a video concerning Israel – “Whose land is it?” I figure it will gives a little more info to understand what is happening. It’s about 35 mins.