He became the poster boy for “foot-in-mouth” disease! Here's how it all unfolded.
His “pastor” made an appointment to visit him in his home. Getting into the schedule of such a busy man was no simple task, but apparently the request made to the executive’s secretary convinced him/her that this was an important matter. So, understanding both the time constraints and the seriousness of the issue before them, the “pastor” cut straight to the chase.
“I respectfully ask you, your Honor, for some advice. A most challenging situation has presented itself and I come to you to seek your wisdom. May I paint for you the picture?”
“Well of course, Pastor Nate. I’m never too busy to meet with you! After all, we’ve done a lot of life together over the years, so anytime I can be of assistance, I’m honored to do so.”
“Well then, here’s the situation. A member of our congregation committed a most grievous crime. He had a longtime acquaintance arrive in town for an overnight and wanted to treat him to gracious hospitality. He told his staff to prepare a fine meal, choice muttonchops was to be the main course. Being wealthy and all, it would have been very simple to just have one of the kitchen staff go out to the pen and select a fine animal and begin the preparations. However, at the last minute, the host decided to not do that but instead slipped over to his much poorer neighbors and untied their family pet. He brought it into the prep area and had his staff prepare it for the meal. Here’s the advice I need. The rich dude stole the only sheep the neighbor had…the children LOVED that lamb! You are a man of good judgment and bear the weight of judicial verdicts, so I am asking you, what should be the penalty for such an offense?”
Well, the incredulous leader wasted no time declaring the appropriate verdict! His passion for justice in the face of such a horrendous act of injustice spewed out the legally correct penalty. However, the anger, which accompanied the pronouncement, clearly exposed what had to this point been a well-managed personal failure. “That man should pay four times over! Four of his choicest lambs must be given in place of the one innocent sheep stolen! Four for one!”
Imagine the atmosphere in that home office in that moment of uncomfortable silence that followed this outburst of righteous indignation. Bet you could slice it with a butcher’s knife! Then, carefully, clearly, and compassionately, Pastor Nate replied, “You, your Honor, are that man.”
Discernment is a responsibility that all God’s people, and especially responsible leaders, must exercise. But judgment is a right that belongs only to the tribunal of God! “Judge not that you may not be judged,” is a caution against the sinful tendency to view the sins of others as far more glaring than the unaddressed sins of my own heart. Judgmentalism is the arrogant attitude of the self-righteous. The passion with which that criticism is fueled, far too often exposes the former dark secret of one’s own soul. Sawdust specks in the eye of another are so much more “serious” than the structural beam that totally blinds my own eye!
Perhaps it’s time for a little personal “eye-surgery” and log extraction!
See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom