Still Growing
June 26, 2023
I know a lot of incredibly talented and wonderful people who are their own harshest critic and judge. Present company included. Today I came across 1 Corinthians 4:2-5. Paul really puts life in perspective.
2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 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. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. 5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. (NLT)
The first thing that popped into my mind as I read this was those social media posts that tell me my wardrobe choices or my hairstyle makes me look old. They say I must immediately change my hairstyle and throw out my entire wardrobe. I can already feel the eyes of those “they” people judging me harshly. While I am not suggesting we shouldn’t try to look our best, I am saying that I am not going to allow the opinion of some complete stranger on social media, who doesn’t know me and has never walked in my shoes, to tell me my value. I also can’t let them or anyone else influence me away from being who I am supposed to be.
There are a few lessons to learn from what the Apostle Paul says:
Don’t let others’ judgement or opinions deter you from being who and what God called you to be.
Romans 14:4: Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
Don’t judge yourself, because even your own self-evaluation can’t be trusted to be right.
1 Timothy 4:15-16: Give your complete attention to these matters (spiritual gifts God gave you). Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
God is the ultimate judge of the worthiness of our lives and choices. Only His opinion matters. Keep doing what God told YOU to do, no matter what others say, what you imagine they are saying, or what your own judgmental inner voice says.
Philippians 4:12-14: I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
God gave you a specific set of talents and a unique assignment that only you can do. God doesn’t make mistakes. If He gave me the talents and assignments, He will help me to achieve them. That is why He sent Jesus and why He has given us the Holy Spirit as our helper and advocate. God judges His redeemed children through “Jesus” eyeglasses. And we know that is good because this is what He said about Jesus in 2 Peter 1:17: when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” That is what He says about you, too!
Keep growing and learning. You are not done growing yet. Neither are the people you meet each day. Neither are the social media people. You are perfectly redeemed and beautiful. Remember that!