When we judge others, we are placing our own personal measurement on them. Instead of looking at someone with grace, mercy, and forgiveness, we instead start doing comparisons. Did they do something I would never do? Did they say something I feel was inappropriate? You see, when we do this, we are using ourselves as the ‘plumb line’ – the measure of what’s good and bad.
The verse above puts measurements in the same boat as judgements. When I give I should over-measure, over-give. Another way to look at this is to not measure at all. Give, and then give some more. Don’t worry about how much it is – God knows. If you give until you run out – good! The more we empty ourselves into others, the more others are blessed, and the more room the Spirit has to fill me up!
What does it look like when God uses our own selfish measurements against us? It isn’t pretty… On the other hand, here’s an example of how God blesses us when we give without holding back:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)
We do not want to set the boundaries for judgement ourselves – leave them to God’s grace. Only His grace can provide a way out of receiving His justice, and only His mercy can overflow our lives with blessings!
#LoveMatters