1 Corinthians 4:3-4 ~ Doin' Better

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

NKJV

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.

NLT

As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.  My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

 

Paul here is saying that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks of him, that he doesn’t even judge himself; the Lord does.  Don’t take this the wrong way.  We should care enough about what the world thinks to show them what Jesus looks like in each of us.  But as believers, our judgement is by the Lord….that’s a whole lot scarier judgement than anything the world can heap on us.  Understand what Paul understood, just because our conscience is clear…doesn’t mean we’re right. 

 

I can’t tell you how many times I have said, “I don’t care what others think about me”.  In the past it was used as an excuse to do and say what I wanted, regardless of the feelings of others.  As I came to the Lord, my attitude about this changed.  I believe as a Christian, I have a responsibility to show love to others (speak the truth of Jesus but do it in love).  For example, a while back I had a good friend pass away and I made the comment that “God has a plan for each of us that we don’t always understand”.  His wife proceeded to tell me how mad she was at God in that moment.  Was there truth in my statement? Certainly.  Did it need to be said at that moment?  Absolutely not!  What his wife needed was for someone to cry with her in that moment.  Words we say in every situation have an effect, our application of those words will tell what the effect is.

 

How will you use your words today?

 

Doin’ better,

cej