The Bible condemns judgmentalism i.e., hypercritical judging. It is easy to constantly find fault with what others say and do. Often such judgment of another’s action is based on one’s own criteria.

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For example, a young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast the young woman saw her neighbor hanging her wash outside and said: “That laundry is not very clean, she doesn’t know how to wash correctly; perhaps she needs a better laundry soap.” Her husband looked on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hung her wash out to dry, the young woman made the same comment.

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A month later the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line, and said to her husband: “Look, she has finally learned to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?” The husband replied: “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

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And, so it is with life. What we see when watching others, depends on the clarity of the window through which we look! Lesson: Don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is crowded by anger, jealousy, negativity, hearsay, partiality, or unfulfilled desires. Such is unjust judgment. Leviticus 19:15 condemns injustice in judgment, and admonishes us to judge our neighbor in righteousness. Also, Jesus said: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (Jn. 7:24). Before judging others examine your reasons for doing so. Earl Nightingale said: “When you judge others you do not define them, you define yourself.” So, before judging others, clean your windows! Think on these things.

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Dennis Abernathy