Hey Everybody and Happy Friday! You know I am not going to beat around the bush, but rather I want to jump to the point. If there is one thing that gets under my skin, it is for people to boast themselves up and put people down in the process. This really bothers me and I see this especially in work places.
In an world where competition is eat or be eaten, people will try any tactic to "one-up" someone else at someone else expense. In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but rather be sober in judgment (see Romans 12:3). Here sober means "proper assessment of yourself"1. So in a nutshell, Paul is telling us we need to be aware of where we are in our lives before we start passing judgment on others. Also, I believe we can say this means we need to be aware from which we've come! You cannot assess where you are and where you are going without knowing from which you came.
I want to take a look at Matthew 18:21-35. It is rather long, but stick with it. It says,
Here is where you find the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, however, I want to show you something else. You saw someone who lost their sense of direction. The servant seemed to forget where he once was and learned nothing about it at all. Not only was he unmerciful, but he was not sober in judgment when trying to accuse someone of owing him money.
If you recall, there was once upon a time that you didn't know what you knew. There was a time that you did not know who you now know. There was once upon a time, where you were "fresh-off-the-boat" at something and there was someone at some place who knew more than you did. Despite all this somebody took a chance on you. Someone looked at you and said, "I think that kid will be alright under the proper guidance".
Before you start to turn your nose up at someone who you feel is beneath you, remember there was some point in your life where you had not arrived. That person who you see now was you once not to long ago.
1. Piper, John "Assessing Ourselves With Our God-Assigned Measure of Faith, Part 1". Desiring God. August 29, 2004
Regards,
Antoine E. Hall
Blog: http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall
"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33
In an world where competition is eat or be eaten, people will try any tactic to "one-up" someone else at someone else expense. In the Book of Romans, Paul tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but rather be sober in judgment (see Romans 12:3). Here sober means "proper assessment of yourself"1. So in a nutshell, Paul is telling us we need to be aware of where we are in our lives before we start passing judgment on others. Also, I believe we can say this means we need to be aware from which we've come! You cannot assess where you are and where you are going without knowing from which you came.
I want to take a look at Matthew 18:21-35. It is rather long, but stick with it. It says,
(21) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" (22) Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (23) "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. (24) As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[b] was brought to him. (25) Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. (26) "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' (27) The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. (28) "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. (29) "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' (30) "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. (31) When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. (32) "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. (33)Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' (34) In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (35) "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Here is where you find the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, however, I want to show you something else. You saw someone who lost their sense of direction. The servant seemed to forget where he once was and learned nothing about it at all. Not only was he unmerciful, but he was not sober in judgment when trying to accuse someone of owing him money.
If you recall, there was once upon a time that you didn't know what you knew. There was a time that you did not know who you now know. There was once upon a time, where you were "fresh-off-the-boat" at something and there was someone at some place who knew more than you did. Despite all this somebody took a chance on you. Someone looked at you and said, "I think that kid will be alright under the proper guidance".
Before you start to turn your nose up at someone who you feel is beneath you, remember there was some point in your life where you had not arrived. That person who you see now was you once not to long ago.
1. Piper, John "Assessing Ourselves With Our God-Assigned Measure of Faith, Part 1". Desiring God. August 29, 2004
Regards,
Antoine E. Hall
Blog: http://toinebo.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AntoineHall
"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33
