I’ve had a cleaner since early 2008, a cheerful African woman, older than me, bossy, a Christian. However, I always feel she is criticizing my house-keeping (hey, which leaves MUCH to be desired). Increasingly less so, but still critical words and attitudes sadly linger in the memory.
Then as she got too old, and too busy, she passed us on to her friend, Grace, from Kenya. Grace is totally non-judgemental. It’s just a job. She just comes in, cleans, gets paid, goes. Not a word of suggestion or commentary. There is no sense of an uphill battle to get the house museum-perfect so that it will pass muster.
And, and… interestingly, we have got so much more done and picked up than when we had someone coming who I sensed, rightly or wrongly, was judging us. We had a pile of stuff in our old shower which is now removed. Piles of books and CDs now tidily stored. We are getting to the desired state of everything in its place so much more rapidly.
Judging, criticizing and condemning people acts like a strong and invisible force, binding them to what you think they are–in their relationship with you. It’s almost as if, without a strong awareness of God’s grace and power, one is condemned to act out the script that people have written for you.
And judging people is the act of the accuser of the brethren. Satan.
Jesus has issued a clear command, “Judge not, that you shall not be judged.”
Oh Lord, help me when I find myself judging and accusing people mentally, let me stop and repent.
Let your spirit flow through me, the spirit of the comforter, the counsellor, the advocate who speaks in our defence.
