'It's a Very Small Thing' To Be Judged' By You Or Even By Me

This morning, a great section in Genesis came to mind regarding Abraham and Abimelech.  Abraham and Sarah traveled to Gerar where Abimelech, who was a Philistine king, lived. Abraham fearing the Canaanites, let them think that Sarah was his sister and not his wife. Abimelech took Sarah with the idea of making her one of his wives. Then God talked to Abimelech about the consequences involved in doing so and Abimelech confronted Abraham about it. Some big things happened because he did. There was restoration and healing.

Hey, wait a minute, why did God talk to Abimelech? Who is supposed to be God's man here? It is very interesting to think about. Whose choice was it to talk to Abimelech?  It was God's choice for His own reasons. Abraham was a prophet. Are prophets always right? They are right only when speaking for God. What they do on their own time is not necessarily truth. We see that at other times in the Bible.

In the New Testament, with the appearance of Jesus Christ as God's only begotten son, a savior unequaled by anyone, we can gain true wholeness and soundness in life.  God provides us with those qualities by pure grace not by requiring perfection in return. He just wants love and our trust in what He provides.

There is a great section in I Corinthians 4:1-4:

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Paul is referring to himself and what it means to be a steward of the mystery (should be singular) of God. A good steward of God's Word is faithful.  A steward is trusting and believing towards his master and carries out his master's transactions regardless of what others think.

There is a very good point to be made about the fact that it is God that is in charge. In Ephesians 4:2, 'lowliness' (the God's in charge mind-set link) is the first requirement for unity of the spirit. People don't make something true because they say or do something or even because of who they are. Abimelech, a Canaanite, spoke up to Abraham even though Abraham was the prophet. It was God that set it up. Why should anyone complain? When it comes to God and carrying out His instructions, 'it is a very small thing' to be judged by others or even in judging one's own self. Actually it's a very peaceful, sound and wholesome way to live!