Judging Rightly

Introduction:

· A summer ritual

PRIDE CREATES TWO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS WE’RE OING TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING.

I) Pride Leads us to Speak Against Others

A. Slander in the Context of Pride

i. Are we defined by…Worldly Wisdom or Godly Wisdom? (3:13ff, 4:6)

1. Is our life shaped by self-centered living or rooted in a fear of God?

2. Pride insists on our own way; Humility calls us to submit ourselves to God

ii. Prideful Slander Means “speak against others” (vs. 11a)

1. Gossip = speaking truth to the wrong audience: “Marriage is in trouble.”

2. “Slander” is speaking untruth about another for personal “righteousness”

B. Slander makes us violate the Law we claim to uphold (vv. 11c)

i. Speaking against another person is actually speaking against the Law

1. Actions show: you value righteousness (you’re pursuing it by slander!)

2. BUT you ned up disregarding the righteous law we claim to uphold

3. EXAMPLE: spreading a rumor that a student cheated

THERE’S A SECOND WAY THAT PRIDE SHOWS UP.

II) Pride Leads us to Wrongly Judge Others

A. Pride Leads us to Wrongly Judge Others

i. …judge others (vs. 11b)

1. James is NOT forbidding addressing sins in another person (5:19)

2. But the word suggests putting above in order to condemn under law

3. ILLUSTRATION: Someone cuts you off in traffic à Punish!

B. Judging Others is Rooted in Pride

i. God alone is the lawgiver (vs. 12)

1. God is a “legislator” who enacts law that embodies His very character

2. As such, God alone is the ultimate standard by which all will be judged

ii. But “judging” falsely elevates us over others by making us act as God

1. Sitting above” others in order to condemn them, we take God’s place

2. We are terrible judges, ill-equipped for the task!

iii. We lose sight of our own faults (see Matt. 7:3)

Matthew 7:3 ESV

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?

1. “judging” focuses on the flaws of others while losing sight of our own

2. ILLUSTRATION: Going to a marriage seminar alone (or a sermon?)

YOU MIGHT BE REALIZING THAT JAMES IS TELLING US TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.

III) How can we be Rescued from this form of Pride?

A. The Judge Who Can Destroy…

i. There is more going on:

1. When you are a “judge”, you are trying to secure moral superiority

2. When you slander, you are trying to secure moral superiority

ii. A judge who can destroy:

1. James points us to a judge who can destroy: Why?

2. His standards are so perfect that they’ll crush you if you try on your own

3. We MUST know our own weaknesses and sins: Judge ourselves first!

B. The Judge Who Can Save

i. This Same Judge Can Save you:

1. Jesus lives the life that will measure up to the standards of the Judge

2. When you trust Him, his righteousness counts for you – to save you

3. This gives us confidence AND Humility at the Same time

i. APPLICATION:

1. When you have to address a wrong, you’ll ask, “Where have I confronted this sin in my life?”

2. When you have to address a wrong in someone, you’ll do it as a co-defednant

Transition:

Conclusion

asd