God is the Judge

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” - Romans 14:12

In this fourteenth chapter of Romans, God uses Paul to write a little bit about Christians and their differences of opinion. He mentions that there are those who are stronger in the faith and those who are weaker in the faith. Those who are stronger in the faith are challenged to receive those who are weaker in the faith. However, we should not squabble over minor issues such as eating meat or abstaining, or celebrating this holiday or not. If we quibble over such things, we will certainly be wasting our energies. 

In the tenth verse of this chapter, the question is asked, “But why judgest thou thy brother?” This is the same question that we must answer today. As Bible-believing Christians, we often are ready to look down on fellow Christians who do not believe just as we believe. Indeed, there are some who walk disorderly in their doctrine, standards, and conduct. The Scriptures are clear that we should separate ourselves from such believers. Yet, somehow, we as believers have often become so contentious that we fight with fellow servants of God who are actively trying to please the Lord. We do not argue over matters of doctrine, but over minor differences of opinion. The Scriptures are clear: these fellow servants are not ours to judge. “Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4) 

Understanding this, we would do well to cease from making ourselves a judge of other servants of God, but allow God to judge them Himself. If they do well, He will reward them. If they do not well, He will deal with them. We are not the arm of God’s judgement upon them. Instead, we must remember that we will give an account of ourselves to God. When we remember this, we must follow through with the command that follows. “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” (Romans 14:12)

Dear believer, what account will you give before your God? You are His servants; how well does He grade your service? Those who would do well in His service must serve. There are many servants of God who stay in His house and do not labor in His field. When the majority of the believers in a church take this attitude, the church is destined to be ineffective with the Gospel and begins to take the path of a dead church. 

While it is true that we should not be judged by our fellow believers, let us remember that we ourselves will stand before the One whose place it is to judge, and we will give an account for ourselves. What account will we give to our God?