Luke 6: 37-38

Lucy Paculabo Mhondera

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults-unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back-given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way. Generosity begets generosity." Luke 6: 37-38 (The Message)

Why is it so easy to identify someone's faults rather than look at their qualities? We are all guilty of it. If we criticise rather than show compassion, we can also expect to receive criticism. If we treat others with grace and compassion and are generous towards other people, these qualities will come back to you in full measure. The NIV version of the above verse says: "For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

I wouldn't want people to throw their criticisms my way. Imagine how you would feel if they did. It says in the above verse don't criticise unless of course you want the same treatment. Whatever you throw someone's way, whether good or bad, be prepared to have it thrown back at you. Look at people's qualities first and allow those amazing qualities that every individual has, to shine out and over shadow their flaws, because we all have them both, qualities and flaws. WE are not perfect so why should WE be the judge of another's imperfections.

Who are we to make any judgement on any person, whether it be the way they look and dress, what we think about the way they handle situations, or their opinions, or who their friends and family are. Do we know the inner most thoughts of that person, do we know the journey of their life, what they've been through or what they are going through? What makes our thoughts, opinions and views right? Just because someone else's are different to ours does not make them wrong. We all come from different journeys of life and a lot of the time we set standards that we expect others to meet. What we need to understand and learn is that our standards will be different to the next persons. What we think is wrong may appear right to someone else. Everyone is different and our differences make us unique, it would be a pretty boring world if we were all one type of model with one setting.

Only God can truly judge us, and actually by judging other people what we are doing is saying that we have a right and an authority to do so...but do we? However we are all guilty of it to some degree or another. Whether it's someone at work or school who we just don't get on with, or judging someone purely by the way they look, the way they dress, whether they are tall or short, fat or thin, whether they have designer clothes, drive a nice car or by their gender or race.

We should guard our thoughts, our words have power, so let those words be positive, upholding others, encouraging and treating others fairly. Don't spend idle time gossiping about someone else. Why do so...is it down to jealousy, frustration, annoyance? Gossip is of no help to anyone, especially ourselves, all it does is lead to heartache for the other person. Would we like the same treatment? So for the sake of being nosey, don't do it. It's too easy to gossip and can become an everyday occurrence without us even realising we are gossiping or criticising another. If we are around people who like to gossip, then bow out, not an easy option going against the grain, but actually it's a lot easier than we think.

When Jesus had his last supper with his disciples he said in John 13:34-35 (The Message):

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other."

To love others is one of the greatest commands and should be one of the strongest driving forces of our life. Jesus loves us so much, despite all our faults and failures, he does not judge, criticise and gossip about us. He loves us! In this verse Jesus says to love one another. It's easy to love the people we like, but he means everyone, especially the people we don't necessarily like. Respect is a sign of love; respect others by not judging them. By doing so we will be a living example to all those around us. We already live in a world full of so much judgement and criticism, be someone who shines out, be Christ like and we will be noticed.