Not Everyone Is As They Seem

 

Not everyone poor is humble.
Not everyone rich is prideful.
Not everyone battered is beaten.
Not everyone spoiled is rotten.
Not everyone meek is kind.
Not everyone popular is rude.

In this world, we assume much about others based on our limited experiences, and finite understanding of what we know (or think we know). We can't help it. We're all very quick to assume the best of ourselves or those we love and respect (whether or not we truly know them), while at the same time, presuming the worst of others.

If a person we love or respect is thoughtless, we say, "Well, I'm sure they have a good reason. They probably have a lot on their mind or plate." But if it's someone we dislike or don't know at all, we say, "Whell! I guess they don't realize they're not the only people in this world!"

I do this. Do you?

Unfortunately, I don't stop there. There are times where I presume the worst of people I actually do know and love and respect if, I feel slighted or forgotten by them.

I like to think that since I'm not an emotional person, that I see people and events as they really are rather than judge things by how I feel. But I'm not this person. Being less emotional than most people doesn't exclude me from judging others and situations based on my pre-sin-conceived notions of everyone and everything.

The compassionate saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover" although true, doesn't fully convey how we ought to judge or not judge ourselves, others, and any situation.

God says,

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.

~John 7:24, ESV

But what is right judgment?

The original Greek word Jesus uses in this verse is δίκαιος transliterated, dikaios, which means: righteous; innocent; just; pertaining to being proper or right in the sense of being fully justified.

Basically, right judgment is sinless judgment.

And by the only Righteous One's definition of "right", no one can judge this way except Him. Only God Almighty is righteous, innocent, and the Just and Justifier of all who trust in Jesus (Rom 3:26). The rest of us are wrong, guilty, biased, and are completely unjustified before the only true and Holy One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

So today, be honest about who you are and how limited you are in your knowledge and understanding of yourself, others, and every aspect of every situation you encounter or witness.

If we lived each day with gratitude to God for all He's done for us in Christ Jesus, we would more honestly remember how truly wicked and helpless we are before His holy and perfect and righteous sight. If we did that, then we would be more easily compassionate toward everyone around us, more readily prayerful for their good, and more quickly concerned about helping and refreshing them rather than hurting and reproving them.

I'm not saying we ought to walk around like fake, happy-clappy Christians who have no sense of reality. I'm simply suggesting that we be slow to think anything, about anyone or any situation; quick to listen to the Spirit's wisdom found only in God's Word; and judge all things and all people (including ourselves) by the holy precepts of our God and Father.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

~James 3:13-18, ESV