A judge or a lover?

Exodus 3; Job 20; Luke 6; 1 Corinthians 7

God reminds me again of the contrast between His way and the way of sinful human thinking. Obviously, it shows up in the how He treats those who are His children and what the Bible describes as the fate of the wicked. One description is in a speech by a ‘friend’ of Job:

Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth, that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ He will fly away like a dream and not be found; he will be chased away like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him. His children will seek the favor of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth. His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. (Job 20:4–11)

He goes on for the rest of the chapter in a tirade about the wrath of God, only he errs in that he is applying this to Job. Does he not realize that God has said of him, “There is none like (Job) on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.” (Job 1:8)

From Abraham to the NT believers, God says that those who have faith are considered righteous and their sin is not counted against them. This is the wonderful good news of the Gospel and it applied also to Job. However, his ‘friends’ were not treating him like a child of God but judging him as if he was a wicked and evil man.

Luke 6 provides the contrast. Jesus condemned the Pharisees who practiced judgment against all who do not keep the Law. They ignored the gospel that ‘righteousness comes by faith’ and treated everyone with their ‘keep the rules or you are condemned’ attitude. Like Job’s friends, they applied this to the righteous — even to the greatest and most righteous One of all, their Messiah Jesus Christ.

In contrast, Jesus fed the crowds, healed the sick and cast out demons regardless of the spiritual state of those receiving those blessings. He said His people are not to be like Job’s friends:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:37–38)

I wonder what those ‘friends’ would have done had they heard God saying those words to them. Or saying that they should “love their enemies” never mind this person who was their friend? Would they stop their tirade against this suffering man and begin doing what the Son of God would have done had He been there?

Then I think of the times I’ve ‘judged’ other Christians in a spirit of condemnation, as if they had to keep my set of ‘rules’ to be acceptable, or as if they were not believers. How easily the sinful flesh can pridefully look down its nose.

God is incredibly kind. I already told the story of an angry man who got a ‘note’ from God right at the height of his wrath. The note said, “You are cherished.” That man was a Christian and with that touch from God, his anger dissolved. God’s grace is blessing his life with increased transformation. Knowing God’s love also increases our love for others.

Application is simple. The next time I think judgmental thoughts about the way a Christian is talking or acting, I need to bite my tongue. Or if I speak, it must be “truth in love” not harsh and critical condemnation. I’m not to be like a friend of Job but like Jesus, a friend of sinners and a lover of all God’s people.