James (W8D5) Who Are You To Judge
Week 8. Friday: Who Are You to Judge?
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: James 4:11-12
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Do not slander one another: To slander someone is to speak evil about them.
Speaks against: This is related to slander but also includes speaking evil about someone and toward someone. It is slander behind their back and to their face.
Judges them: To slander or speak against someone is to make yourself a judge over them. In this context, this kind of judging would be wrong and sinful (Matthew 7:1-5). There is a kind of judgment that is focused on accountability that is good for us (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).
Speaks against the law: Because God’s law tells us to love your neighbor as yourself, to slander someone is to say our way is better than God’s way.
Only one Lawgiver and Judge: Only God decided what is right or wrong. When we slander someone we are taking God’s place as the judge of His creation.
Able to save and destroy: God is just, merciful, and wrathful.
Who are you to judge: Before we slander someone we should ask ourselves: What makes me better than anyone else? Who am I to judge when I am also sinful?
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
What are the real reasons behind why we slander or talk about the people we are in conflict with?
How would conflicts and disagreements be different if you chose to pray for and not speak against those who have wronged you?
PRAY: Ask God to help you give grace to others the way He gives grace to you.
