ILL-Treating Others
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"(Matthew 7:2 NIV).
A brother was relating an incident with me about how he "lost" his job at a company where he was employed. Given his senior position of power, our brother John, (not his real name) got involved in a heated argument with one of his former colleagues over the phone, little did he know that his colleague in the other office put the phone on loudspeakers for everyone to listen.
While our Brother John was exchanging words of anger and insults to his colleague his manager was listening and just as he ended the call he was informed by his supervisor that the manager called and barred him from ever speaking to the colleague he just lambasted and he was due to attend a disciplinary hearing.
Suffering For Arrogance
As it was, our brother John explained that he felt so embarrassed and that feeling led him to simply stay away for good from work as he was unable to face his colleagues to face his shameful behavior. Being a God-fearing man, our brother John apologized to his former colleague a few weeks thereafter. Meanwhile, he started trusting the Lord for a new employment opportunity which caused him and his family financial ruin and hardship for more than a year as he was the only breadwinner.
However, during those trying times, Brother John being a grown man found himself having to learn humility and submission. While the experience was unpleasant, it brought him closer to God and his faith and works in Christ were duly awarded by the Lord he was blessed about a year thereafter with a new job which ultimately catapulted him into full-time Ministry work and an outstanding witness for Christ.
Being Taught Humility And Self-Control
While this is a true incident in every respect, our Brother John said that the humiliation he tried to inflict on his former colleague was reversed on him as he was taught humility and to exercise self-control over his emotions and his sharp tongue.
In conclusion, brethren we are to be careful how we treat others especially if we are in a favorable position of authority or if others are financially dependent on us. We are by no means superior to the less privileged for in the eyes of the Lord we are equal and we know that the Lord fights the cause of the poor (Proverbs 22:22-23; Psalm 72:4).
The Bible says, "Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 HCSB). Let us therefore not allow our lofty positions or 'better than thou' attitudes to degrade others. Instead, we should consider that the Lord will humiliate us (Esther 6:10-11) and cause us to taste how it is to have Him against us.
Blessed Peace in Christ
Brother Glenn
