So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” John 8:7 (NKJV)
Whenever you judge someone else, it starts with the question, “Why?”
Think about it. If someone took your parking spot at work, you might wonder why. Your mind would look for an answer to that why question, which may cause you to judge their intentions. If you assumed they did it on purpose, you would also be judging them as a person. Whether or not they actually are guilty, they would feel your judgement.
People do this to God all the time. They blame Him for natural disasters and then ask the question, “Why?” God never brings pain and heartache into our lives, but many assume that these disasters are God’s way of pouring out His anger. This says a lot about who they believe God is. They think He’s angry and vindictive, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Instead of wondering why someone did something, ask them! Assume the best in people whenever possible. After all, none of us are perfect, so what right do we have to judge?
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying that you should assume everyone you meet is trustworthy. You need to examine someone’s track record before you trust them. Judging someone’s track record is okay, but it is never okay to judge someone’s heart motives and intentions. Only God knows the heart, so leave the “why” questions to Him.
Why spend your life angry, always assuming the worst in people? Fill your mind with the “best, not the worst,” and you’ll have peace (Philippians 4:8–9, MSG)!
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