"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls before pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."Well now I bet you can see why I might have left that prize verse alone. Even more so because it comes directly after the prohibitions, "Do not worry" and "do not judge". This text seems to require us to do a little bit of both. One commentator I read outlined the broader section of the reading (the pericope):
- Do not worry (6:25-34)
- Do not judge (7:1-5)
- Judge a little (7:6)
Despite the fact I didn't "go there" on Sunday, I do think that "judge a little" is an important word of truth. If nothing else, it is exceedingly practical.
On the one hand, we are each running our own races. Judging, in the sense of becoming pre-occupied with someone else's speed or distance can cause us to foot fault out of our own lane, our own race. On the other hand, picking training partners who challenge us -- not running out in front and mocking our failure but also not lagging behind and insisting that we slow down to keep them company -- is important.
It's not judging another persons' immortal soul (cause that would require the sort of divine insight that is certainly beyond my pay grade) but it is surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us because we are training for the same event. Who challenge us because they may come off the starting block in a way we've never seen before and we observe, learn and try for ourselves. Who challenge us because we don't know, on any given day, which of us will cross the finish line first. Who challenge us with good-natured ribbing, with encouragement when that is due and also with congratulations when they are due. Training partners need to be equipped to challenge us in this way. And we need to be ready and able to return the favor.
This speaks to the ways we choose life partners, friends and -- I venture to say -- churches. We do not line each church up, place bets, fire a starting pistol and commit to whichever one crosses the finish line first. Instead, we evaluate the race God has given us to run. Are we sprinters, marathoners, hurdlers, relayers? And, as we suit up and get out on the track and begin to run our pace are there others running with us? Not saying there is anything wrong with folks training for other events (do not judge) but who are the people with whom you fall into step? Not perfectly, not every time, mind you, but enough to know we are headed the same direction at basically the same pace. Pick those people wisely, says Jesus. A good teammate can cause you to flourish and you can, alternately, rejoice in their successes. A poor teammate can possess the ferocity of wild dogs or the simplicity of pigs. Pick those people wisely, says Jesus. Don't judge. But judge a little.
