Am I a Wise Man?

Am I a Wise Man?

Proverbs 1:7

Once more we see God’s value system is different from the average person’s. He describes “wisdom” not as mere human intelligence or being brainy like we do, but as respecting Him first and paying attention to the profitable counsel from His Word. So, a ‘wise man’ leads a lifestyle of moral integrity or honesty, humility, and agreement/obedience to God.

Regarding biblical wisdom, “fear” again is not referring to being terrified of punishment. Instead, this is a deep, reverent awe and healthy respect for God. It includes recognizing that He is the Creator, the ultimate authority, and the judge of all that is right. By starting here, we acknowledge our own limitations and align ourselves with the fundamental moral order of God.

The essence of true knowledge is fearing God. Apart from Him a person is ignorant of spiritual things (Rom. 1:22; Eph. 4:18; 1 Peter 1:14).^[1]

If you wonder if you are ‘wise’, God offer clear statements to help us reflect on. These primary verses provide specific ways to measure our wisdom.

What Can I Learn from the Book of Proverbs?

God views a wise man as someone who pursues humility, seeks counsel, and reveres Him. He is characterized by emotional control, diligence, careful speech, and a lifelong desire to learn.

Basic qualities of a wise man in Proverbs include:

1.     His Foundation is in God: The Bible states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). A wise man trusts in God rather than relying solely on his own understanding.

If a man wants to be wise, the place to begin is in reverencing God and in trusting and obeying Him. What is more reasonable than that the creature should trust his Creator? On the other hand, what is more illogical than for a man to reject God’s Word and to live by his own hunches? The wise thing to do is to repent of one’s sins, trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and then live for Him wholeheartedly and devotedly.^[2]

• The Character Statement: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)
• The Worldly Wisdom Evaluation: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3:18)

True wisdom is fundamentally rooted in the “fear of the LORD” (a deep reverence and respect for God) and applying His lessons to everyday experiences.

2. He Listens to Counsel with a Desire to Learn: A wise man is teachable, actively increasing his learning and seeking guidance, whereas a fool despises instruction and thinks he needs no advice.
• The Teachability Examination: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)
• The Humility Acid Test: “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)

Unlike a fool who thinks he is always right, a wise man listens to advice, accepts correction, and learns from his mistakes.

3.    He Controls His Temper: Rather than being reckless or quick-tempered, he stays calm, restrains his anger, and overlooks insults.

o   God very directly says control your temper in Proverbs 16:32: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

• James 1:19: Advises being "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath".

o   Ephesians 4:26: Advises dealing with anger immediately rather than letting it fester.

In this better … than proverb (see comments on 12:9) having patience and a controlled temper is honored above being a soldier. In a land where safety depended on might and skill in warfare, this statement may seem surprising. Yet conquering oneself (cf. 14:17, 29; 25:28; 29:11) is of greater virtue than conquering a city.^[3]

4. He Uses Restrained and Helpful Speech: A truly wise person speaks carefully and uses few words. His words are known to bring healing rather than acting rashly like a sword.
• The Speech Appraisal: “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
• Proverbs 29:11, 14:29, & 15:1: Focus on wisdom over folly, urging a calm spirit and using soft words to calm conflicts.
• Proverbs 25:28: Compares lack of self-control to a broken-down city.

The more we talk, the greater is the probability of saying something wrong. Compulsive talkers should beware! The lust for incessant conversation often leads to exaggeration, breaking of confidences, and associated sins. Trying to top someone else’s joke often mushrooms into off-color stories.

The man who exercises self-control in his speech is wise. He saves himself from embarrassment, apologies, and outright sin.

10:20 What a good man says is a reflection of what he is. Because his character is sterling, so is his speech. Since the heart (or mind) of the wicked man is not worthwhile, neither is the conversation that flows from it.^[4]

A wise person restrains their speech, avoiding gossip, anger, and hasty words in favor of gracious and truthful communication.

5.   He is a Diligent and Productive Worker:

God provides strong motivation for a productive work ethic, urging believers to work with diligence and integrity as an act of service to Him. God highlights the importance of hard work, offering wisdom for both daily tasks and career focus.

o   Proverbs 14:23: Emphasizes that hard work brings profit, while idle talk brings poverty.

o   Proverbs 22:29: Notes that diligent workers gain recognition and distinction.

o   Proverbs 13:4: Highlights how the diligent will be fulfilled, while the lazy will lack.

o   Proverbs 10:4: Connects a diligent hand with prosperity.

God heartily endorses excellence, purpose, diligence, reward, skill, and integrity for employers and employees. Colossians 3:23, encourages working heartily for the Lord rather than men. Ecclesiastes 9:10, instructs doing all tasks with your full strength. 1 Corinthians 10:31, advises doing everything for the glory of God.

6.    He Looks Ahead with Discretion: He exercises discretion and caution, anticipating danger and turning away from evil, while a fool is reckless and arrogant. ‘Discretion’ is the ability to use godly wisdom to protect yourself from harm, avoid foolish mistakes, and respond calmly to others.

o   Proverbs 2:11, “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:” This verse highlights that exercising good judgment acts as a guardrail against dangerous paths.

o   Proverbs 19:11, “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” Self-control and knowing when to let something go reflect true character.

o   Psalm 112:5, “A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.” In daily matters the righteous manage their responsibilities wisely.

Wisdom brings discernment. A wise man is vigilant, avoids dangerous paths, and flees from temptation.

7.    He Keeps Good Company: Whoever walks with wise men becomes wise, much like iron sharpens iron.

o   Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Those with whom you surround yourself will shape your own character and future. Walking with the wise leads to wisdom, while associating with fools (the biblically unwise or rebellious) leads to ruin.

o   1 Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” God warning us against being misled. Spending time with negative influences, unwholesome speech, or those who disregard God’s values will ultimately ruin your own good character and habits.

One way to become wise is to associate with wise people, including companions and teachers. Conversely to associate with fools brings problems.^[5]

What Can I Learn from the Lord Jesus?

1.     The chief quality of a “wise man” is obedience to God through adherence to his word.

2.    Jesus illustrates this concept on a real-world level referring to the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27).

3.    Jesus showed:

·        The Wise Man: Represents anyone who hears Jesus' teachings and puts them into practice. Because their life is built on a solid foundation of obedience, they can withstand the storms and trials of life.

·        The Foolish Man: Hears the teachings of Christ but ignores them. When life gets difficult, their house (life) collapses because it lacks the strong foundation of adherence.

In conclusion Jesus presented the two options open to His listeners. They were now responsible for what they had heard and must make a choice. They could build on one of two foundations. One foundation was likened to a big rock and the other to sand. The foundation determines the ability of a structure to withstand the elements (rain and winds). The rock foundation represented the Lord Himself and the truths He had been presenting, especially the truth concerning inner transformation. The sand spoke of Pharisaic righteousness which the people knew and on which many were basing their hopes. In storms the first would give stability; the second would result in destruction. Thus hearing and heeding Jesus’ words is wise; one who does not is foolish. Only two courses of action are possible—two kinds of roads and gates (Matt. 7:13–14), two kinds of trees and fruit (vv. 15–20), two kinds of foundations and builders (vv. 24–27).^[6]

Conclusion:

It is wise to walk in King Solomon’s wisdom. Clearly, King Solomon is widely regarded as the wisest man ever. When God offered him anything he desired, Solomon asked for wisdom to govern God’s people well (1 Kings 3). Such wisdom became legendary. However, the Bible also teaches that even Solomon’s adherence faltered later in life when he strayed from God’s guidelines—reminding us that godly wisdom requires lifelong, active faithfulness and continuous application. So, where are you concerning God’s wisdom?

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^[1] Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 908.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 792.

^[3] Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 942.

^[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 815.

^[5] Sid S. Buzzell, “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 934.

^[6] Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 34–36.

Discerning God's Will

Discerning God's Will

ROM. 12:1-2

SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN DEVOTION

THEME: As Christians, We Knows That We Were Created by God That We Might Glorify Him. Therefore, our Ultimate Goal is to Dedicate ourselves to His Glory and Service.

RELEVANCE: May the Lord help us to become Living Sacrifices. The work of God can only move forward as individual believers began to take seriously commitments to Christ. Making purely superficial decisions is not life altering and character shaping, but employing real discernment involves us in God's activities which have eternal consequences. 

INTRODUCTION:

Romans 12:2, ...“what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

God's will is what is “good,” what is “acceptable” (to God), and what is “perfect” for each believer. Believers who are being transformed, who know and do God's will, also discover that what God plans for them is “good,” “acceptable” to God, and “perfect” for them.   

MESSAGE:                                                            

WE CAN DISCERN GOD'S WILL.

There are many Believers who walk right into Satan's traps and never know what happened to them. One of them might say, “I can't imagine what went wrong.” A person with a discerning spirit will be quick to explain, “Here's the trap Satan set and here's how you fell into it.”

              1.  Discernment is Deciding What is Truly Right and Wrong.

Hebrews 5:12-14,   For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

                      A.  What Discernment Is.

Each of us needs to develop a discerning spirit if it is our purpose to live as a sacrifice for Jesus Christ.

 A discerning spirit is rooted in a knowledge of right and wrong. It is the ability to perceive or distinguish between good and evil, pretense and reality, image and substance, true and false, and right and wrong. The time to begin learning discernment, and teaching right and wrong to others is immediately after being saved. We begin after the new birth and continue throughout our Christian lives.

APPLICATION: Understand that the elementary teachings of the faith are essential for all believers to understand.  This is where discernment begins for us all.  Everyone needs to first learn the ABCs before being able to read complex books. The elementary teachings about Christ include the importance of faith, the foolishness of trying to be saved by good deeds, the meaning of baptism and spiritual gifts, and the facts of resurrection and eternal life (Heb 6:1-3). This is where we begin to know the difference between true and false, fact and fiction, right and wrong, good and evil. However, to have a mature understanding, we need to move beyond (but not away from) the elementary teachings to a more complete knowledge of the faith. This is what we must do (Heb. 6:1). And finally mature Christians should be teaching new Christians the basics.  Who are you teaching?  What are you being taught?  Do you understand that there are absolutes?  Do you know enough of God’s truth to detect Satan’s lies?

                   B.  What Discernment Does.

Mature Christians have disciplined themselves on “strong meat”— solid food, that is, they have learned about and appropriated the high-priestly role of Christ (Heb. 5:12-14).  Spiritually mature Christians constantly examine themselves, turn away from sin, and learn what actions, thoughts, and attitudes will please God. These blessed saints ‘have trained themselves’ — “their senses exercised to discern,” to distinguish good from evil. They have trained themselves like an athlete training and exercising through much practices.

APPLICATION: Had these believers been mature, they would have recognized that the temptation to abandon Christ was "evil." They were not mature, however, because they didn't understand the significance of Christ's position. Therefore, they were ready to drift away from Him (Heb. 2:1).

In order to grow from infancy to maturity, we must learn discernment. We must train our consciences, senses, and minds to distinguish good from evil. We must incorporate from the word of God principles of right thinking and right action whereby we can correctly judge moral situations that occur. Can you recognize temptation before it traps you? Can you tell the difference between a correct use of Scripture and a mistaken one? How much time do you spend reading the word of God? Do you spend greater amounts of time watching TV or reading the newspaper?

           2.  We must Know Right from Wrong Not Only in Theory, but in Practice.

Ezekiel 44:23-24,  And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. [24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Matthew 7:6,  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 

We must know how to apply God's truth to our lives and how to live in obedience to His commandments.

ILLUSTRATION: That's why Moses said that we are to teach God's commandments throughout the day, not just in a half-hour Sunday school lesson (Deut. 4 & 6). We are to say plainly to them, “This is right behavior, this is wrong behavior. This is God's commandment. This is the consequence for breaking God's commandment. ” An education in right and wrong must occur twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year.  In addition the Lord Jesus made it very clear that Christians should exercise sound discernment and discretion in our relationships with the lost of the world.

                  A.  A Discerning Believer Will Avoid Satan’s Traps.

Proverbs 22:3, A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Also Prov. 27:12).

A prudent person is a thinker, planner, and cautious person.  They examine their current situation with an eye on the future.  They anticipate problems and Satan’s traps and decisively plan to stir clear of them!  It is the simple-minded person who gets caught in Satan’s traps.  A child of God who is thoroughly trained in God's commandments and has been taught right from wrong has very little trouble discerning Satan at work.  He quickly picks up signals that tell him when things are not right; his conscience is sensitive to God's will.

                  B.  A None Discriminating Believer Will Not Recognize the Dangers.   Proverbs 22:3

A child of God who is not taught right from wrong—a person who allows themselves to do whatever he wants to do without considering the consequence.  A person who follows their feelings and desire for pleasure.  A person who has been told that all things are relative and that there are no absolutes —becomes a slow-moving target for the enemy. He never sees what hits him.

APPLICATION: 

1.  There is the Danger of Wrong Friends.  Prov. 1:10-19; 2:11-22

2.  There is the Danger of Wrong Beliefs.   Phil. 3:7-10

3.  There is the Danger of Wrong Practices.  Gal. 4:7-11

4.  There is the Danger of Wrong Ideals.  Col. 2:6-10

5.  There is the Danger of Wrong Values.  Prov. 3:13-26; Prov. 8:10-25; 16:16

Wisdom here also means practical discernment. It begins with respect for God, leads to right living, and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong. God is willing to give us this wisdom; but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self-centered instead of God centered.  To learn God's will, we need to read his Word and ask him to show us how to obey it. Then we must do what He tells us.

           3.  Every Believer Should Develop Spiritual Discernment.

1 John 4:1,  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

There have been times when I've entered a room full of people and immediately sensed in my spirit that something was not right. It's as if an inner alarm had gone off. At times the room was even occupied by a group of Christians—but my inner spiritual radar told me that something was amiss, something wasn't right before God. In every case, I've discovered that this inner discernment was correct.

Eccles. 8:5-6,  Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.  [6] Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

I believe each Christian can and should be developing and exercising this kind of spiritual discernment. God does not want His people to live in darkness or to be without an ability to detect evil at work. He has made every provision necessary for us to acquire and grow in our ability to discern our enemy.

           4.  God's Provision for Us Is Twofold: His Word, and His Spirit. The Bible is our source-book for right and wrong. God's Spirit is our teacher in helping us to choose good in our daily walk with Christ.

                  A.  The Scriptures.

Hebrews 5:13-14,  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

                  B.  The Spirit. (1Cor. 2:9-16; Jn. 14:25-26; 16:12-15; 1Jn. 2:26-27)

 CONCLUSION:

Ultimately we must dedicate ourselves to God's glory and service. This is the goal with each advancement and decision we make. May the Lord Jesus continue to help us to become living sacrifices who discern God's will. The work of God can only move forward as we take seriously our commitments to Christ. Let us move beyond mere superficial decisions employing real discernment involving ourselves in God's eternal activities and life changing character. 

The Kind of Judgment that Helps

MATTHEW 7:1-6

THEME:  When we reject a false righteousness, it will enable us to reject a false system of judgment also.

RELEVANCE:  The Lord wants us to exercise wise judgment regarding ourselves, other people, and the Lord himself.

INTRODUCTION: “They have a right to censure that have a heart to help.” -- William Penn

The Lord Jesus has been preaching to correct misconceptions about true righteousness and distinguishing God’s righteousness from the popular forms of Pharisaical righteousness familiar to His audience. He has shown repeatedly how the contemporary standards of right fall utterly short of God’s original intent for His Law (Matt. 5). He has also endeavored to express the weight and import of motives surrounding spiritual disciplines like giving, fasting, and prayer (Matt. 6). True righteousness requires love and commitment at the heart level.

True righteousness also supports the sound exercise of judgement (Matt. 7). An understanding of righteous standards and properly motivated godly practices encourages clear thinking discernment regarding our actions and those of others. To have a skewed perception of righteousness leads to skewed judgement. Likewise, a hypocritical standard of righteousness will influence one to judge hypocritically. Naturally, if we have no idea of God’s standard of righteousness, we would demand, “Don’t judge!” I know reading that may feel harsh...but please pause and think deeply about this.

The Pharisees were then judging and rejecting Christ finding Him entirely inadequate. He was not offering the kind of kingdom they anticipated or asking for the kind of righteousness they were exhibiting. So, they rejected Him. Jesus therefore warned them against hypocritical judging. Their false righteousness helped to encourage this false judgment. This explains why our Lord closed this important sermon with a discussion of judgment. In it He discussed an aspect of judgment called discernment. Consider the following....

LESSON:

Discernment: Judge Yourself Before You Judge Others (Matt. 7:1-6)

Discernment is keenness in seeing and understanding for the purpose of good and shrewd judgment. The eyes of our soul require a discernment whereby we can instantly read the character of others, but more importantly our own actions and motives.

The first principle of judgment is that we begin with ourselves. Jesus did not forbid us to judge others, for careful discrimination is essential in the Christian life. Christian love is not blind (Phil. 1:9–10). The person who believes all that he hears and accepts everyone who claims to be spiritual will experience confusion and great spiritual loss. But before we judge others, we must judge ourselves. Remember it is true righteousness that enables righteous judgement; this must of necessity return our focus back to ourselves. There are several reasons for this.

A.    Consider the Personal Repercussions (Matt. 7:1-2)

Here the Lord Jesus turns judgment on His 'judges' indicating the consequences of exercising unrighteous judgment.

We Shall Be Judged (7:1). The tense of the verb judged signifies a once-for-all final judgment. If we first judge ourselves, then we are preparing for that final judgment when we face God. The Pharisees “played God” as they condemned other people; but they never considered that God would one day judge them. Whether or not they acknowledged a righteous standard in this life, they will face God's righteous judgment in eternity. 

We Are Being Judged (7:2). The parallel passage in Luke 6:37–38 is helpful here. Luke 6:37-38, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Not only will God judge us at the end, but people are also judging us right now; and we receive from people exactly what we give. The kind of judgment, and the measure of judgment, comes right back to us. We reap what we have sown. Fair is fair! It behooves us to shy away from a judgmental and critical spirit. Right?

We Must Not Be Judgmental (7:1-2). The word “judge” can mean evaluate or analyze. It also refers to private, judgmental attitudes that tear down others in order to build up oneself. The command “judge not” does not refer to judging in a court of law, nor is it a blanket statement against critical thinking. Believers should be discerning and make certain judgments. For example, Jesus said to expose false teachers (Matt. 7:15-23) and to admonish others in order to help them (Matt. 18:15). Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1Cor 5:1-5). Judgment is appropriate when confronting sin (1Cor. 5:12). (Wiersbe) Such judgments are clearly guided by the Word of God; it should not be according to a private standard. 

But as followers of Christ, we should not be critical or condemning in our attitudes toward others. A judgmental, critical spirit differs radically from love. Believers’ special position with Christ does not give us license to take God’s place as judge. Those who judge in that manner will find themselves judged likewise by God. As God will have mercy on the merciful (Matt. 5:7) and forgive those who forgive (Matt. 6:14-15), he will condemn those who condemn (Matt. 7:2b). The way we as Jesus’ followers treat others is the way God will treat us. The religious leaders taught that God judged the world by two “measures” -- mercy and justice. Each person receives what he or she measures out, either with mercy or with severity.

“Judge not, that you be not judged” (7:1) may be the most-often-misquoted text from the Bible. People frequently apply it as if it were a flat command against all moral judgment. In fact, people use it to judge what they consider a judgmental attitude on the part of another. Jesus, however, gave these words as one negative application of the Golden Rule. That is, we should not treat others as we do not want to be treated. We should seek to measure ourselves and others by the same standards.

Jesus declared it unacceptable to excuse our personal sin while holding others accountable for similar behavior. When you perceive a fault in others, your first impulse may be to confront or reject that person. But ask yourself first if your awareness of the failure mirrors your own life. Your effort to help will be in vain if the person can point out the same fault in you. Practice your own remedy before you ask others to do it. Jesus tells us to examine our motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. Our untamed bad habits and behaviors are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

B.    Consider a Personal Examination (Matt. 7:3-5)

Our Lord turns the focus on us; this is where our examination begins.

We Must See Clearly to Help Others (7:3–5). The purpose of self-judgment is to ensure we are right and to prepare us to serve others. Christians are obligated to help each other grow in grace. When we do not judge ourselves, we not only hurt ourselves, but we also hurt those to whom we could minister. The Pharisees judged and criticized others to make themselves look good (Luke 18:9–14). But Christians should judge themselves so that we can help others look good. There is a difference!

Our Lord Jesus Illustrates This Very Point with The Eye (7:3-5). Jesus chose the symbol of the eye because this is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body. The picture of a man with a two-by-four stuck in his eye, trying to remove a speck of dust from another man’s eye, is ridiculous indeed! If we do not honestly face up to our own sins, and confess them, we blind ourselves to ourselves; and then we cannot see clearly enough to help others. The Pharisees saw the sins of other people, but they would not look at their own sins. In Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus used the illustration of the eye to teach us how to have a spiritual outlook on life. Jesus didn't point out our sinfulness, so we would simply let each other off more easily. He made it clear that a problem noticed usually requires more than one person’s response. Both speck and log must be removed. The person with the speck-sized problem may actually be in a better position to help remove the log than the other way around. This means that when you notice a problem in someone else’s life, you may have to ask that person to help you with the same problem in your own. A problem in common can be an excellent starting point for accountability.

We Must Not Pass Judgment on Others’ Motives. We should examine their actions and attitudes, but we cannot judge their motives—for only God can see their hearts. It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive. It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.

When we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat, He will examine the secrets of the heart and reward us accordingly. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:16, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." He went on to say in Colossians 3:22-25, Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: [23] And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

We Must Be Loving and Tender When Helping Others (7:5). The image of the eye teaches us another truth: We must exercise love and tenderness when we seek to help others (Eph. 4:15). I have had extensive eye examinations, and I appreciated the tenderness of the physicians. Like eye doctors, we should minister to people we want to help with tender loving care. We can do more damage than a speck of dirt in the eye if we approach others with impatience and insensitivity.

In addition, two extremes must be avoided in this matter of spiritual self-examination. The first is the deception of a shallow examination. Sometimes we are so sure of ourselves that we fail to examine our hearts honestly and thoroughly. A quick glance into the mirror of the Word will never reveal the true situation (James 1:22–25). The second extreme is what I call a “perpetual autopsy.” Sometimes we get so wrapped up in self-examination that we become unbalanced. But we should not look only at ourselves, or we will become discouraged and defeated. We should look by faith to Jesus Christ and let Him forgive and restore us. Satan is the accuser (Rev. 12:10), and he enjoys it when we accuse and condemn ourselves! Our personal priority must be addressing ourselves first (vs. 5). After we have judged ourselves honestly before God, and have removed those things that blind us, then we can help others and properly judge their works. But if we know there are sins in our lives, and we try to help others, we are hypocrites. In fact, it is possible for ministry to be a device to cover up sin! The Pharisees were guilty of this, and Jesus denounced them for it.

C.    Consider Your Personal Perception (Matt. 7:5-6)

The Lord links personal ministry to personal judgement.

The Reason We Must Judge Relates to Our Ministry of ‘Holy Things.’ (7:6). As God’s people, we are privileged to handle the “holy things” of the Lord. He has entrusted to us the precious truths of the Word of God (2 Cor. 4:7), and we must regard them carefully. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” Certainly, the Gospel is an extraordinary treasure! Clearly a faithful priest would not throw meat from the altar to a filthy dog, and only a fool would give pearls to a pig. So, who are these “dogs” and “swine”? (Matt 7:6) They are unholy or “unclean” people who, when presented with the gospel, treat it with scorn and contempt. “That which is holy” refers to the special, consecrated food that only the priests and their families ate (Ex 29:33-34; Lev 22:10-16; Num 18:8-19). It would be unthinkable to give this sacred food to scavenger dogs. In the same way, it would also be futile to give pearls to pigs. “That which is holy” and “pearls” picture the teaching of the gospel of the kingdom (see 13:45-46 where the kingdom of heaven is compared to a pearl of great value).

Jesus explained the futility of teaching the gospel to people who do not want to listen; such people will only tear apart what we say. Pigs do not realize the value of pearls; all they know is that they cannot eat them, so they spit them out and then trample them into the mud. Contemptuous, evil people cannot grasp the value of the gospel, so they scornfully cast it away. We should not stop giving God's Word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and discerning so as not to bring scorn to God's message. When Is Evangelism Wrong? Is evangelism ever inappropriate? Sometimes our witnessing requires discretion. There are times and places when witnessing can be rude and offensive. As a result, the gospel will be ridiculed. When you witness, there will always be resistance to the message. Don’t be put off. Resistance is normal. But when your witness provokes anger, slander, or ridicule, consider another time and place. All people need to hear the gospel, but effective witnessing occurs in appropriate settings.

While it is true that we must carry the Gospel “to every creature” (Mark 16:15) …. It is also true that we must not cheapen the Gospel by a ministry that lacks discernment and appropriateness. Even Jesus refused to talk to Herod (Luke 23:9), and Paul refused to argue with people who resisted the Word (Acts 13:44–49). Often in my evangelism efforts I am looking for someone ready and willing to listen to the Gospel.

The Reason we must Exercise Judgment is to Have a Discerning Life and Ministry (7:6). It is not that we might condemn others, but that we might be able to minister to them appropriately. Notice that Jesus always dealt with individuals according to their needs and their spiritual condition. He did not have a one-size-fits-all canned presentation for everyone. Memorized speeches have a certain usefulness, but Jesus was aware of the principles of salvation and He worked these principles. He discussed the new birth with Nicodemus, but He spoke of living water to the Samaritan woman at the well. When the religious leaders tried to trap Him, He refused to answer their question (Matt. 21:23–27). It is a wise Christian who first assesses the condition of a person’s heart before sharing the precious pearls.

As Christians we must exercise discernment; for not everyone is a sheep. Some people are dogs or hogs, and some are wolves in sheep’s clothing! We are the Lord’s sheep, but this does not mean we should let people pull the wool over our eyes!