Luke 6:1-5 “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’”
The Pharisees had a real distain for Jesus and His disciples and so they nit-picked everything that He did. Here they saw Jesus doing something that they thought was unlawful and pointed it out. They were looking through what I call colored glasses. They did not criticize King David for when he did something similar – they looked the other way.
When it comes to President Trump and the main stream media I see the same thing in the political world today. Yes, Trump is not your typical politician or president, following protocol and all, and saying things he probably wished he hadn’t, that the media continues to harp on, but what about Obama and the unmasking of Americans? What about Hillary selling 20% of our uranium to the Russians and the next thing we see is millions coming into their foundation and Bill Clinton receiving a whopping honorarium for one speech given in Moscow? Or Hillary’s private e-mail server that contained classified information? Or their foundation when it came to finances meant for the earthquake victims of Haiti? Could it be that the main stream media is looking at President Trump through their colored glasses?
What about us personally? Are we guilty of the same thing as the Pharisees, looking at things through their colored glasses? What about those who preach and teach the Word of God giving prestige to those who are the bigger givers in the churches – as James brings out: “If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:3-4
Perhaps we have become judges with evil thoughts, like James said, with politics too?
When it comes to members of our family, are we judging one another with our evil thoughts of colored glasses? Have we looked at our spouse or children and found ourselves judging them in a condemning way for something they did or did not do?
In Romans 2:1 Paul tells us: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” We seem to forget that people around us are like mirrors reflecting us and reacting to others we are faced with.
Paul goes on to tell us in Romans 2:1 “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” Sin is sin. We are all sinners. One sin is not worse than another to God.
It is like a tape recorder is tied around our necks that records every word that we speak and God judges us on that basis. Words have the power of life and death. Jesus say “that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37
No wonder James gave us sound advice when he said, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19
We should learn from Job who said to God when he didn’t understand what was happening and what God was doing, “I put my hand over my mouth.” Job 40:4