Job 34:37: “For [Job] adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”

Elihu’s speech against Job continued. Elihu accused Job of being in open rebellion against God because he persisted in his claim that he was not hiding any secret sin. We have a vantage point that neither Job nor his friends had, so we understand that because of Elihu’s insufficient information, he was judging Job incorrectly. But that is always the problem with trying to make a judgment about someone’s spiritual condition, isn’t it? We don’t know all their circumstances or motives, so we sometimes criticize them unfairly. Only God is aware of all the facts and is able to judge a person righteously.

I love the old story of the Anglican Bishop Potter. He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he boarded, he found that he was sharing a cabin with another passenger. After seeing the accommodations, he went to the purser’s desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship’s safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser took his valuables and remarked, “It’s all right, bishop, I’ll be very glad to take care of them for you. Your cabin mate has already been up here and left his for the very same reason!” As Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matt. 7:1–2). So we pray:

“LORD, keep us humbling serving You today, not slipping into criticism or a judgmental attitude toward others. We choose a good attitude.”