talking against one another...

James 4: 11 Brothers and sisters, stop slandering each other. Those who slander and judge other believers slander and judge God’s teachings. If you judge God’s teachings, you are no longer following them. Instead, you are judging them. 12 There is only one teacher and judge. He is able to save or destroy you. So who are you to judge your neighbor?

you know.. we can stand here and say that we are not a gossip.. that we don't talk about other people.. but I am thinking.. if Jesus would sting us every time we do it without even thinking about it... we would be shocked at how often we do... anything that is not encouraging is negative... you can't be middle of the road.. either you are talking them up.. or talking them down... I have recently began to notice how often I talk about people without even meaning anything by it...

so this scripture states that if we are talking about people... slandering or judging them.. then we are really judging God's teaching... now I have to admit.. I don't get how that would be true.. then he goes on to say that if we judge the teaching of the law.. then we are no longer following it... hmmm.. so... bottom line would be.. when we talk about other people.. we are sinning against the law of God... even when we are not really thinking maliciously...

only God is able to destroy us or to save us... yet here we stand... talking about other people... even if all we are doing is trying to figure them out.. why are we doing it? and what real business is it of ours?

I guess the truth is... I can't manage my own life without God's help.. who am I to try and manage someone else's... whether they are sinful or not... so am I... keep my focus on my own issues Lord.. don't let me fall prey to worrying about other people and their rights or wrongs... remind me daily that the only business I have is in my own house....

again I say... imagine all the good we could do if we spoke life into everyone we encounter... just imagine the change it would make in our life.. and possibly theirs too...