We’ve explored the limitations of our lives in terms of energy (we need rest) and resources (we need others). Another margin that needs to be respected is the limit of our wisdom and knowledge.
Because we are made in God’s image, we have the ability to “figure things out.” God has made us to be problem solvers, and we can become good ones. We eventually learn a few tricks and techniques for getting things done and acquiring skills to do them.
That’s all well and good. But we may become overconfident in areas in which we don’t have all of the information or the experience (wisdom) to process it. This is especially true when assessing the lives of others. Have you noticed that we are better at telling others what to do than developing the self-discipline to do what we need to do?
This is one reason, no doubt, that the Bible warns, “Judge not lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Jesus clearly is not telling us to give up our discernment or suggesting we be naive. Far from it. He is telling us not to condemn others, not to misjudge them, either because we think we know what they should be doing, or because we “just know” why they did it.
For while it is easy to see what someone does, we NEVER can know fully why he/she did it. Moreover, we can’t possibly know all of the background decisions and experiences of life which led up to a given act.
Of course we must not ignore or excuse the blatant sin around us, but we dare not look down on those we may not understand from our lofty, self-righteous perch. Instead, rather than trespass God’s authority, we keep ourselves in line and pray for others, allowing God and God alone the prerogative of judgment. He knows all. He will get it right. 1 Corinthians 4:5
Don’t forget to allow for the margins!