One day a brother whom seldom had much contact with his sister called her to set her straight.  He’d heard that his sister’s adult daughter had medical bills she was struggling to pay. “Why aren’t you helping her with those bills?” She answered that she and her husband had helped her and listed a number of examples. Then he proceeded to tell his sister what money-hungry people she and her husband were for having cleaning jobs at night in addition to their regular jobs. The sister explained the income from these jobs was a designated college fund for their children. Then the brother retorted, “You’re doing too much for your kids….”

Even for Christians, the habit of a judgmental spirit is a frequent problem that sours one’s spirit and ruins relationships. Therefore, the Scriptures deal with this extensively. In Romans 14:4, Paul tells believers at Rome: “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth….” The point was we have no right to judge another believer. The Lord Jesus alone is our judge. John 5:22 confirms: “For the Father…hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” Therefore, when we venture into this area of judging others, we are overstepping proper boundaries intended by the Lord. We have neither the qualification nor enough complete information to stand adequately in judgment of another believer. When believers at Corinth became critical of the Apostle Paul, he told them: “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know…He that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart…” (I Corinthians 4:3-5). Paul writes in another letter: “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). As the saying goes, “That’s so simple, even a fifth grader can understand it.”

Believer, have you allowed a judgmental attitude to sour your spirit? Are you often critical of others? This horrible habit so dishonors the Lord that He will one day judge these actions at the Bema Seat. Let today be a turning point when you intentionally turn from judging others.

On November 18, 1978, cult leader Jim Jones and more than 900 of his followers committed mass suicide in the jungles of Guyana. Jones was a charismatic leader who drew people in with promises of building a utopia-type community, where everyone would be equal. Once within the group, complete loyalty was demanded. Under investigation by the U.S. government, Jones convinced his followers to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. Many were so enthralled with Jones that they believed whatever he told them and did whatever he said. The results were devastating.

While the example of Jim Jones is extreme, the truth is “man-followers” have always existed, even among God’s people. The Apostle Paul rebuked the saints at Corinth saying, “…there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal (I Corinthians 3:3-4). Apparently these believers, like some today, had become enamored with those who had ministered to them. They would champion one over the other, give them their undying loyalty, and continually extol their virtues. Apollos was “…an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures…” (Acts 18:24). This capability drew an avid following, which championed him as its leader (I Corinthians 1:12). The Apostle Paul was less polished yet God enabled him to perform “…the (miraculous) signs of an apostle…and wonders, and mighty deeds” (II Corinthians 12:12). In either event, believers were placing their focus on these men rather than upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Today such loyalties would manifest itself in treating their teachers like a celebrity, following them around the country, seeking photo ops with them, and continually quoting them. But none of this is God’s way. Paul told these saints that those who planted the seed of God’s Word in their lives were not “any thing” (I Corinthians 3:7). Paul continued: “…these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred…that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one be puffed up for one against another” (I Corinthians 4:6). Since Paul and Apollos were truly godly men, their desire was to see people give their love, loyalty, and enthusiasm to the Lord instead of to them.

Dear believer, don’t drink the Kool-Aid of becoming overly enamored with those who minister for the Lord. Be thankful for their ministry, but keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.

While our children were growing up, our family had a small janitorial business to finance having them in a Christian school. We took the children with us, even if all they were able to do was gather the wastebaskets. One day the girls were less than enthusiastic about their participation. So, without really thinking it through, I told them: “If you work hard with a good attitude, when you graduate high school, mom and I will buy you a car.” I only promised that once, but they never let me forget it nor allowed me not to follow through on my promise.

Our Heavenly Father has a fantastic promise for every blood-bought believer. Referring to the time when we graduate from this life into eternity, I Corinthians 3:8 says “…every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” With absolute certainty, we are assured the Lord will handsomely reward us for service done for the Lord Jesus Christ after salvation. Reconfirming this confidence, the Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

We should also comprehend our reward will be proportionate to our effort in service. As stated above, everyone will be given “reward …according to his own labor” (I Corinthians 3:8). If we choose to do little or nothing for the Lord after salvation, this will be reflected in little reward received. II Corinthians 9:6 states it this way: “…He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” As a high school yearbook reflects one’s participation, or lack thereof, in school activities, our records in eternity will correspond with our service and reward. That makes it important for us to busy ourselves now with activities that will matter once we reach eternity. We can serve Christ by inviting or transporting folks to church, presenting the gospel, handing out gospel tracts, serving in the church nursery, teaching the Scriptures, assisting in youth ministries, giving faithfully, doing follow-up on visitors, befriending new comers to church, and much more. The limit on serving Christ is only our imagination and our willingness. If you properly desire reward in eternity, it is imperative that you choose to consistently serve the Lord now. Let today be the start of consistent service for the cause of Christ.

We have friends who have a niece who is extremely immature. She has been so babied by her parents that, into her twenties, she never had to fix her own plate at meals, do her laundry, lift a finger to help around the house, get a job, or do anything other than play video games. On the rare occasions she wouldn’t completely get her way, she would throw tantrums to manipulate adults around her. On one instance, she screamed at her aunt, slammed doors, scratched her own face and hacked on her hair. Her aunt and uncle told her: ”Will you please just grow up!”

It seems to be ingrained in our human nature readily to see immaturities in others, but not so easily in ourselves. The Apostle Paul addresses this problem when he tells the saints at Corinth: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ” (I Corinthians 3:1). There were four characteristics that made this conclusion obvious. Paul said, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (I Corinthians 3:2). Just as an infant cannot digest solid food, immature believers cannot digest anything but the simple basics of biblical teaching. Hebrews 5:11-14 explains why this is so in any dispensation. A disinterest in biblical teaching and a lack in using God’s Word to hone one’s “senses… to discern both good and evil” will always result in spiritual immaturity. Until changed by a genuine interest in God’s Word, and time properly studying Scripture, no believer will truly grow to be a mature child of God. I Corinthians 3:3-6 reveals there are three other characteristics that prove one has not grown to spiritual adulthood. Paul rebukes them for “envying” one another, having avoidable “strife” with other believers, and creating “divisions” because they inappropriately exalted one teacher over another.

As we looked into the mirror of God’s Word today, did you see your own reflection? If so, good! Being able to acknowledge one’s problem is the first step toward victory and maturity. Today, take at least one of these four characteristics and take positive, concrete steps to correct the problem. Only if we are willing to allow God to change us, are we truly spiritually mature or growing to that end.