Who Made Me The Judge?

Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

"Preach The Word"

"WHO MADE ME THE JUDGE?"

James 4: 11-12

INTRO:

In his book, illustrations of Bible Truth, H.A. Ironside pointed out the folly of judging others. He told the story of a well-known bishop, who was sailing to Europe on a great transatlantic ocean liner. When he went on board, he found that he was to share his cabin with another passenger. After going to see his accommodations, he went to the purser*s desk to ask if he could leave his gold watch, and other valuables, in the ship*s safe. He explained that ordinarily he would not ask to do this, but he had been to the cabin, and had met the man whom he was staying with. Judging from his appearance, the bishop was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables, and said, "It*s all right bishop, I*ll be glad to take care of them for you. The other man has just been up here, and left his things for the same reason!"

In these two verses of our text, James returns to one of the major themes of his epistle: the use of the tongue. However, the particular emphasis, here, is upon using our tongue, and our speech to judge others. I believe that F.B. Meyer addressed this subject this best, when he said, "When we judge someone, for what appears to be, there are some things we presume, but we do not know. First, we know not the hardships they have dealt with, the power of the forces that have assailed them; or, what we would do in the same circumstances!"

Therefore, James attacks this issue head on, and very candidly. By showing us three truths, he seems to ask the question, "Who Made Me The Judge?" Notice, he demonstrates that when we*re guilty of judging others, there are three things that we do. When we judge others, we:

I. DISREGARD THE PRINCIPLE OF SPIRITUAL LOVE(11a)

The first thing that happens, when we judge others, is that we disregard the principle of spiritual love. Notice, in this verse, the "brethren, or brother" is reference to three times. Thus, he*s addressing believers, and the family of God. By looking closer, in the very first part of this verse, we see that there is a.

A. COMMANDMENT THAT IS SHOWN

1. However, the force of these opening words, indicate a command that is given, and shown.

2. It seems as if James is not simply advising us, or suggesting this to us; but, he is commanding us not to be involved in this. That*s the Commandment that is Shown!

B. CONDEMNATION THAT IS SEEN

1. Not only is there a commandment that is shown, but there is a condemnation that is seen.

2. He is condemning this kind of activity and behavior, where one is slandering, and speaking evil of another.

3. What James is condemning is a spirit of negative criticism, and a spirit of judgment where we condemn another person.

ILLUSTRATION:

Often times, as a child begins to grow, and mature, their quality of speech will begin to develop. For example, a mother may say, "Johnny has begun to talk," or "Mary can now put a whole sentence together," with the suggestion that the baby is making progress.

So it is in the Christian terms, our quality of speech, is often, an indication of our spirituality, or our lack of it.

ILLUSTRATION:

On a windswept hill, in an English churchyard, stands a drab, gray slate tombstone. The quaint stone bears an epitaph, not easily seen unless you stoop and closely look at it. The faint etchings read:

"Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, Lies Arabella Young. Who on the twenty-fourth of May, Began to hold her tongue"*

ILLUSTRATION:

William Norris, the famous American joumalist, who specializes in simple rhymes, that portray powerful truths, once wrote:

"If your lips would keep ftom slips, Five things observe with care:

To whom you speak, of whom you speak; And how, and when, and where!"

ILLUSTRATION:

Susan Maycinik, in her short dissertation called, "12 Times To Hold Your Tongue," said it*s

best to remain silent in the following situations:

1. When you have criticism about a church service, or leader.

2. When you*re tempted to say, "I told you so!"

3. When you want to complain about the weather, the traffic, the policy, the president, your spouse, your kids, or anything!

4. When you*re criticized.

5. When you have information that makes someone else look bad.

6. When someone is upset about a problem or something that*s happened, and you*ve had a similar experience.

7. When you*re tempted to judge or criticize someone.

8. When a friend*s situation would make a great point in the conversation.

9. When you*re tempted to correct someone.

10. When you think some has made a poor decision.

11. When you*re tempted to tell something about yourself for the

purpose of impressing someone.

I believe that you would agree, that pretty much covers it! If this ought to be true of anyone, it ought to be true of the people of God. We*re to love one another, encourage one another, and speak well of one another. However, when our speech is in judgment of others, then we Disregard the Principle of Spiritual Love*

II. DISOBEYS THE PRECEPTS OF THE SACRED LAW (v. lib, C)

He goes on, now, to show us, that by judging others, we not only, disregard the principles of spiritual love, but we disobey the precepts of the sacred law. By doing this, two things happen. There is a:

A. VIOLATION OF THE LAW (lib)

1. The first thing that happens, as a result of our passing judgment on others, is there is a violation of the law.

2. The word "speaketh", is the same word "speak" in the first part of the verse. The idea here, is that when we down, or defame another, then we defame the law. We*re slandering the sacred law.

3. James* reference to the law, seems to mean the law of God, in general. But, particularly, what had been described earlier as the ‘royal law*(2: 8), which is, "Love thy neighbor as thyself"*

4. Thus, James is telling us that ‘the law* says that we are to love one another. That is, act and speak in a way which betters, and blesses that person.

5. However, slandering, backbiting, and gossiping all do the exact opposite. As a result, we violate the sacred law that God has laid down.

6. Therefore, the vivid point James is making, is that a person who reads God law of love, and then deliberately disobeys it, is virtually saying that the law is not worth obeying, and that he can break it any time he wishes. That, my friend, is an injustice, and a Violation of the Law!

B. VINDICATION OF OUR LIFE (lie)

1. James not only tells us that when we judge others is there a violation of the law, but a vindication of our life.

2. Notice, his words again, "If thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge!"

3. Thus, when we disobey the law that God has given, we not only violate it, but, in essence, were trying to vindicate our own selves.

4. You see, friend, God*s law has not been given for our opinion, but for our obedience!

As John Blanchard so aptly said, "The man who does not set himself under the law of God, sets himself above it!"

ILLUSTRATION:

John Wesley told of a man he had little respect for, because he considered him to be miserly and covetous. One day, when this person contributed only a small gift to a worthy cause, Wesley openly criticized him. After the incident, the man went to Wesley privately and told him that he had been living on parsnips and water for several weeks. He explained, that before his conversion, he had run up many bills. Now, by skimping on everything, and buying nothing for himself, he was paying off his creditors one by one. Wesley said, "I felt as if I had attempted to be the distributor of the law, and vindicate myself by passing judgment on the that man!"

I believe that Dr. Louis Evans, explained it well, when he said, "For some reason, it is easier for us to jump to negative conclusions about people, than it is to assume the best about them. When we do this, we ascribe to them bad intentions, and evil purposes that may not be true. Inevitably, by judging them, we attempt to justify ourselves. We seek to lift our reputation by lowering theirs, and promote ourselves by demoting them!"

6. Thus, James is informing us that if we*re guilty of the sin of judging others; then, there is a Violation of the Law, and a Vindication of our Life. Ultimately, we Disobey the Precepts of the Sacred Law!

III. DISRESPECT THE POSITION OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD

(v.12)

James moves to the third result of judging others. As if the first two weren*t enough, when we do this, we also disrespect the person of the sovereign Lord, and we disrespect:

A. HIS AUTHORITY (12a)

1. James tells us that when we disrespect the position His sovereignty, we disrespect His authority.

2. He reminds us that there is "one lawgiver" and I don*t believe that he is referring to you, and to me.

ILLUSTRATION:

A little boy, one day, was asked, "How many Gods are there?" To which he replied, "There*s only one!" He was then asked, "How do you know that?" He answered, "Because there*s only room for one!"

I need not remind that the God that we serve has in His hand, control of all that is. He is over those that sit in positions of authority; and, he puts one up, and brings another down. He is the lawgiver, He is the sovereign one, and He is the judge! When we pass judgment, then we take upon ourselves His role, and we disrespect His Authority!

B. HIS ABILITY (12b)

1. When we judge others, we not only disrespect His authority, but also His ability.

2. The truth of what James is saying is revealed throughout all of scripture. It bears the record to the fact that the eternal destinies of men, are, only, in the hand of God.

3. Only God "will save!" Only God "will destroy!"

4. Thus, who are we to strut around picking and choosing which parts of God*s law we will obey, and pass arrogant judgment on others?

5. There is only one with that right. Refusal to accept this, questions His Authority, and His Ability. It Disrespects the Position of the Sovereign Lord!

ILLUSTRATION:

In 1884, a young man died, and after the funeral his grieving parents decided to establish a memorial for him. They went, and met with Charles Eliot, then President of Harvard University. They told him of their desire to fund a memorial, and quite shocked, Eliot asked, "Perhaps you have in mind a scholarship?" The parents informed him that what they had in mind was along the lines of a special building. In a patronizing tone, he passed it off, and brushed aside the idea as being too expensive, and the couple left.

The next year, Eliot learned that this plain couple, had gone elsewhere and established a $26 million dollar memorial named Leland Stanford Junior University, known today as Stanford University!

James has given very sound, strong, and stimulating words for all of us to heed.

This hits everyone of us, tonight, because we've all been guilty of, at one time, or another, being someone else's judge. However, when we do that, we Disregard the Principle of Spiritual Love, Disobey the Precepts of the Sacred Law; and, Disrespect the Person of the Sovereign Lord. Thus, the question that we must honestly answer is, "Who Made Me The Judge?"

SERMON FROM PASTOR STEVE WAGERS

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