Questions on Earthly Judgment

Scripture: 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 again for you. And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Let me pull the speck out of your eye,’ when a log is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

Observation: The words of this very famous passage are obvious.

Application: I need God's guidance in this area.

I am a director - a person charged with the business, operational, and functional performance of significant resources. I have people in my charge who are unable to perform their work. For some, it is a matter of insufficient knowledge and skill. For some, it is a matter of personal problems or physical ailments preventing their effective work. For some, it is a matter of attitude and disagreement over direction.

For all of this, my job is to correct. Regarding knowledge and skill, I can absolutely assist and equip others. However, with regards to the other matters, I am struggling with the idea of what to do in the context of Jesus' words about judgment.

-- I empathize with those who have personal and health issues. Some of these are severe. However, should I not hold them accountable for how these issues affect their performance? Should I just excuse and ignore exceptionally poor work because of a distracted mind? Should I allow others to carry a burden because of obvious inability of another to function?

-- I care about those whose lives are so bad that they are perpetually angry all day long. They have chosen rebellion as a standard response to even kind instruction. However, should I accept this rebellion and the resulting inaction at the cost of the work, time, and happiness of others? Should I allow distraction and inertia in some, while motivating others to service and action?

Should I not judge and correct these behaviors that are almost primarily "earthly" in their realm of impact, not heavenly or spiritually? In other words, am I supposed to treat these differently that spiritual judgment? Am I allowed to judge a person's work and correct it, while not judging their heart but simply caring for them as a person? And if I am to care for the person and correct the work, what do I do when the work correction will absolutely impact the life and livelihood of the person?

Prayer: Lord, I just wrote down nine questions ... and I don't have an answer to a single one of them. I turn to you for instruction. I need your word, your leadership, your direction, and your love. Amen.