Testing the Heart

Scripture:
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.
Proverbs 17:3

Observation: There is only one way to know the purity and sincerity of the heart, and that is to submit it to God. In evaluating either your own heart and desires, or attempting to judge others' hearts, our worldly tools are not valid. With precious metal, melt them down in order to see and remove impurities, and with the ways of man we often consider similar tests such as lines of inquiry, or analysis of a person's intent. However, these are invalid. Only God can judge the purity of the heart and thus the sincerity of the intents of man.

Application: This certainly relates to judgment. It is one thing to observe and therefore judge the actions of a man, but it is quite another to judge his heart and his inner intentions. This is a type of judgment that is explicitly reserved for God. However, this proverb goes a step further, implying it is impossible for any other to even perform the task - only God has the ability to test and know the purity of another's heart.

Yet I judge people all the time. I judge not their actions, but their motives. I look at conflict and believe they are bad people who are making conscious decisions motivated by pride or envy. I look at poor results and believe they are incompetent people who should be removed from their tasks. But the truth is I have no idea what is going on in their heart. I do not know if they are bad, or if they are stressed, ill, saddened, burdened, distracted. It doesn't matter if I am rightly judging them ... mine is not to judge at all. That is to be left to the tests of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times I sin by judging others. That is a prideful act, placing myself in your judgment seat. Again, please forgive me. May I show grace and kindness to others today and every day, blessing them out of my own blessing from you, and showing kindness in all times. Amen.