A little self-assessment

1 Corinthians 4: 5 – 8 (MSG) “So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God. All I'm doing right now, friends, is showing how these things pertain to Apollos and me so that you will learn restraint and not rush into making judgments without knowing all the facts. It's important to look at things from God's point of view. I would rather not see you inflating or deflating reputations based on mere hearsay. For who do you know that really knows you, knows your heart? And even if they did, is there anything they would discover in you that you could take credit for? Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what's the point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need. You already have more access to God than you can handle. Without bringing either Apollos or me into it, you're sitting on top of the world—at least God's world—and we're right there, sitting alongside you!”

Have you ever judged anyone or been judged yourself? I know I sure have. I have been the judge and the one judged. I know as a Christian, I am not to judge others. By judging others I am automatically considering myself as better than someone else and that is PRIDE. OUCH!

So I had to give myself a little self-assessment. Here is the question I asked.

Have I thought of myself as better than others?

I would like to think the answer would be NO – but if I have judged - that means that the answer is YES. UGH. Not to worry, we serve a gracious God. He forgives us and will help us work things like this out – if we truly give it over to Him.

Discovering things like this is how we go about aligning our lives with the Word of God. We find out what His Word says through a daily quiet time and prayer, and then we take the steps necessary to obey what it says.

How is God speaking through His Word to you today?