God's Glory in a Sin Soaked World

It wasn't until recently that I really understood the concept of judgement of charity. There are so many times we quickly jump to the worst possible conclusion. Instead we should assume the best until we know otherwise.  You tell your son to clear his materials for his school project off the kitchen table before he goes to bed and the next morning it is still spread from one end of the table to the other. You are ready to tear in to him for disobedience just as you notice all the telltale signs that he had a nasty touch of a stomach bug. Your best friend at church has hardly spoken to you since you took different sides of an issue ardently discussed at the congregational meeting. You decide she's still upset about what happened. You're ready to talk  to her about her bad attitude when you find out she's always rushing off to check on her ailing mother. Her added responsibilities were what made her seem distant. You see another friend out with a man, not her husband. They seem a little too friendly. You fear the worst and later you discover it was her brother after a long separation.

 We each could probably make a long list of similar incidents where we have been either the judge or the judged. In I Cor. 13, in the middle of the most popular piece read at weddings, sits this simple statement. Love hopes all things. Hope looks for the best. Hope hungers for the opportunity to see God's good work in His people and to give Him the glory. This is an important lesson, one I need to remind myself about every day as I interact with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

The other day after I had exhausted myself navigating from one end of the large discount store to the other as I hunted down the items on my list, I stood in line at the snack bar for 2 drinks. The line was moving a little faster than what I had anticipated. The customer right before me was placing her order as I noticed a man with a little girl inching his cart closer to the cash register. I was certain he was trying to cut. The nerve of him! What kind of example was that for the little girl? Should I say something? Maybe if I push my cart just a little closer to the register he'll get the idea.

The man leaned towards the clerk. "Excuse me. You've run out of straws." Suddenly I felt very small. Quickly I had jumped to the worst conclusion. No matter where this man is spiritually because of common grace I can expect better things from him. That's the hard part. Somehow we must be able to expect the best from believers and nonbelievers alike, and not be surprised when what we observe is sin. Expect the best; don't be surprised by the worst.

 We have much to thank God for as we appreciate what seems like good behavior coming from all corners of our world. Judgement of charity is not a principle that just applies within the walls of the church. God can glorify himself through anyone he chooses even in this sin soaked world.

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