Proverbs 24

PROVERBS 24

"These things also belong to the wise:
It is not good to show partiality in judgment."
(vs 23)

Dear brothers & sisters, fellow followers of our Lord Jesus, may we - in everything - judge rightly. Firstly in our own lives, may we make proper judgment against sin, and for holiness and righteousness. In the example we show before our children and those around us, may we never compromise, may we never accept or make excuse for sinful behavior. And as the body of Christ, may we not show favoritism towards any member, but judge righteous judgment in all matters. Scripture says it is a sin to show partiality towards others, because they have more worldly wealth or greater position or "fame". A few days ago, as we studied Proverbs 21 we read a verse from Ezekiel that applies here as well -

“You say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?" - Eze 18:25

The Lord’s brother, James, had much to say about how we are to treat one another, as Christians.

"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place, " and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?" - James 2:1-4

And he quotes a command given by God, through Moses, Paul, and the Lord Jesus, Himself -
"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, ” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." - James 2:8-9

As many times as this appears in the Bible, we can see that it is important to Almighty God, how we (who will one day judge men and angels) judge now.

"You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly." - Lev 19:15

"You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous." - Deut 16:19

Sadly, today’s church, as a whole, does not stand against sin as they should, in an effort to be politically correct and keep people from being offended and leaving their congregations. Yet Paul stood firm on this issue. He recognized the reality of living in a world full of sin, but his command to the body of Christ was to never accept sinful behavior, and not to allow it to remain in the church, regardless of who the person committing iniquity was.

"He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous, ”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them."
(vs 24-25)


A popular saying among Christians - "we are sinners saved by grace", is indeed True, but that is not the end of our faith, it is the beginning. Once we have accepted the call of God on our lives, we are to turn from our wicked ways, follow after the Spirit of Life, and "be holy". Paul, who wrote much about our faith in Christ, also wrote these words to the body of Christ -

"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” - 1 Cor 5:9-13

and again -

"Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality." - 1 Tim 5:20-21


God’s forgiveness is never to be taken lightly, or for granted. We who are being shown the Truth as we walk according to the Spirit, are to judge rightly, without partiality, with discernment, and with the wisdom of God. The Father shows no favoritism toward those who make a name for themselves, or those who have great earthly wealth, or even great knowledge of the Scripture. Rather He calls us all to be holy, and He will judge each of us fairly according to our own deeds, choices and behavior.

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
- 1 Pet 1:13-21

Indeed, we’ve covered some hard Truth tonight. May any conviction we feel come only from the Holy Spirit, and cause us to seek the Lord, and His strength to help us overcome.

God’s wisdom and understanding to us all,

Michael


If you say, "But we knew nothing about this, "
does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?
(vs 12)