Who Is Da Judge?

It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don't even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless. I'm not aware of anything that would disqualify me from being a good guide for you, but that doesn't mean much. The Master makes that judgment.  So don't get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. When he comes, he will bring out in the open and place in evidence all kinds of things we never even dreamed of—inner motives and purposes and prayers. Only then will any one of us get to hear the "Well done!" of God.  1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (The Message)

Boy, is it tough for me to not care what people think!  I didn't realize until the last year or so just how much of a people pleaser I am.  The trouble with pleasing others?  There is not way to do that!  If you do everything you can to please one person, you've made someone else angry - for whatever reason.  I've finally realized, being a people pleaser is an impossible way to live.

That doesn't mean it's an easy habit to break, however.  In today's world of polls and politics, everything is driven by public opinion, not absolutes of what is right and what is wrong.  Policies are made because of what people think or want, not for reasons of prudence or diligence.

Paul was right on the money when he said, "Comparisons are pointless."  Not only in this area, but think of how many opportunities you have each day to compare yourself to someone else.  You may look over at the car next to you and see luxury.  As you are driving, you pass all these houses with perfect landscaping.  You name it, you can compare it - looks, clothing, abilities, even children or spouses.

Why do we care about stuff like that?  Is there someone who is the ultimate judge, the one who decides that we are good or bad, right or wrong, because of our clothes or our homes?  Is there an eternal Simon Cowell ready to tear our self-esteem to shreds based on his opinion of us?

Not exactly.  Paul says in the NIV version of verse 4, "It is the Lord who judges me."  If you have a close relationship with God the creator, that's a comforting and worship-worthy verse.  But if you don't, well, that's frightening.

Only God can continually weigh our hearts, and only He can move them in His direction.  And He does that when we willingly and prayerfully turn to Him with a desire for His ways - only!  His Ways, His Thoughts, His Heart.  His Only!  My desire this week is to pray to receive His opinion, and to put behind me the opinions of others - whether deserved or not, I find that I am much more likely to stray from my Father when His is not the only voice I am listening to.