At the suggestion of a blogging “friend” who did a review of the book, I began reading Unoffendable by Brant Hansen. Brant is a DJ for Air1 radio and also has a video on I Am Second. By the way: take a moment and watch the video. His story is remarkable. So I’ve started reading the book. For the third time. It isn’t that its not good…it is. But life and the need to read some other material forced me to put it away. I am a one-book-at-a-time reader. Wish I wasn’t but that is the way I’m wired. 🙂
Anyway…recently I was reading and ran across this 3 line ditty:
- God knows others’ private motives. We don’t.
- God knows our private motives. We don’t.
- We think we can judge others’ motives. We’re wrong.
I have to admit I wasn’t real fond of this. Why? Because I am a “judge.” Oh, I don’t want to be…but I am. I tend to think my motives are pure while I question those of others. You know….the old self-righteous hypocrite attitude. In reality, I fool myself a lot. I tell myself I look good (not physically) to myself and by default to others. How wrong can I be? To quote Brant:
“The heart is deceptive. And that calls for humility above all else, because my heart isn’t deceptive because it fools other people. It’s deceptive because it fools me.” (p.16)Â
I need to take care of Bill’s heart and let God take care of the other person’s heart. Let’s start a revolution of not judging another’s motives. Let’s start with ourselves. Any thoughts?
As a businessman that needs to negotiate deals that allows me to continue making payroll every other Friday for 135 individuals I do not rely on God to Judge the other guys motives. I need to make that read. I know my motives.
When people talk about the heart I wonder if they know that it is an organ whose function is to pump blood. The mind (brain) is where thoughts, feelings, etc. are controlled. I will continue to judge other’s motives and respond according to my assessments.
What I don’t do is label people and use labels in discussions with other people. But in my mind I keep a list.
I think I am a pretty good judge. Very seldom surprised by people.
By heart, I am speaking (as are others) about that part of us which is considered the seat of our emotions. As someone who has the responsibility you do it is essential you be clear-minded about things. i can respect that.
Totally agree. And it’s tough.
Yes it is. It screams at us.
I am a judger and for years I told myself that there was nothing wrong with this because I always seemed to be right about my reads. How little did I truly know.
Sometimes it is good to have discernment. But judging is a little bit more. I have often found myself wrong in my judgment.
Judging is such an easy trap to fall into. Yet I get my feathers all ruffled when others judge me. Go figure.
yeah, go figure. My thoughts exactly. How dare they? 🙂
Guess what God was just talking to me about this morning? Humility! Thank you for echoing His voice!
Glad to be His echo Deb.
As a fellow “judge” myself, I want to join you in this revolution, Bill, to stop judging others’ motives. And yes, start with ourselves. Aren’t we often the most judgmental from the inside out?
I think so Lisa. We are often very hard on ourselves. Other times we overlook our glaring issues and point fingers to make ourselves look better.
Something I’ve been working on for some time and still am. Good to know I’m not alone, Bill!
Blessings!
No way are you alone Martha. I’m at the head of the pack.
Now that I have two teenage boys, I’m seeing this idea of motives in a whole new light. I’m trying very hard, and sometimes failing pretty well, at not judging my boys’ motives. Trying to stick to the facts as I know them. Trying to maintain & build relationship so as to not have to worry so much about motive. Trying… and all too often failing. Yet, it also is great training ground for learning not to judge motives. Amazing how much our kids can teach us!