He Who Judges Me Is the Lord

May 16

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God,” I Corinthians 4:1-5.

We live in a society where many of us are quite concerned about the image we project to others. We care very much about what people think of us. Much of what we do revolves around how our actions—at work, in our neighborhood, within our extended family, even at church—will be perceived by those around us, by those whom we are trying to impress.

But the verse we are considering today makes it quite clear that we are off base when we concern ourselves with anyone’s opinion of us—but God’s. Paul helps us to understand that it is not our evaluation of other people or their estimation of us that is of significance. In fact, in another place in scripture Paul tells us, “They who compare themselves among themselves are not wise,” II Corinthians 10:12.

Perhaps the reason for this very clear admonition is the fact that only God cans see hearts. Therefore, it is God alone who is capable of discerning the thoughts and intents of our hearts and the actions they govern.

Our part in any matter is to comport ourselves in a manner that reflects the heart of Christ to those around us. Although we cannot emulate Him perfectly, for the Word tells us we cannot until we “see Him face to face,” I John 3:2, we must endeavor to “die to ourselves daily,” Luke 9:23, so Jesus can be seen clearly in us.

When we have done this, when we have allowed ourselves to be “living epistles, read of all men,” II Corinthians 3:2, then all men will see Jesus in and through our surrendered lives. We will have made ourselves available to His purposes of being light and salt in our world; we will not be our own, we will be His.

And we will allow the righteous Judge to determine the value of our efforts to His Kingdom’s purposes, knowing our works, and those of others, will be evaluated according to the measure of our surrendered heart to His will.