12 Steps To Heaven: #6, Don't Fault-Find

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?...

He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

Psalm 15:1, 3 (NKJV)

To reproach is to criticize someone– for the faults we find in their behavior.

  • If we do, we’re self-ordained judges…

  • Of strangers, of the world, and of our kin,

  • With a verdict of condemnation,

  • Which can be defined as “casting away.”

Let’s question this process of fault-finding, which some Christians practice regularly.

  • Shall we cast away the bond of friendship?

  • Shall we put on the Judgment Robes of God?

While we’re asking questions, let’s dig deeper:

  • What’s worse? The sin we see in someone else…

  • Or the self-righteous pride God sees in us?

  • 'There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?' (James 4:12).

Looking back on my “Before Christ” decades, I plead GUILTY of presumptuous pride in the mean judgment of hearts I can’t know. The fault-finding finger of old Carey STILL wants to stiffen in self-righteousness--too easily pointing toward others.

But can 'The accuser of our brethren' (Revelation 12:10) still accuse through me? If I open the door called fault-finding, he will! God forbid!

Consider: In today’s Verse, to 'Take up' a reproach harms in two ways:

1) NOTE: To 'Take up' means to carry or publish: as in, to expose something we judge WRONG. God’s not into that: 'A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful Spirit conceals a matter' (Proverbs 11:13).

2) When we expose a friend, it’s even worse. If Jesus covered our sins with His Blood… shouldn't we practice our Savior’s mercy? 'Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins' (1 Peter 4:8).

Through the grace of God, we’re called to grow up…

  • No longer to be kids who shout, 'It's your fault,'

  • Or teens who whisper, 'Did you hear the news…?'

  • Because… 'A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression' (Proverbs 19:11).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Regarding reproach, keep your heart open and your mouth silent.

'Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless' (James 1:26).

12 Steps To Heaven: #6, Don’t Fault Find (Part 8)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. Parts of this series are edits of a prior Carey Lewis Devotion series, first published in 2014.

Carey Arban