YOU ARE NOT HOLIER THAN THOU!
Have you ever met people who ‘claim’ to be so spiritual and closer to God than most? If you have not, then you are most probably that person. The kind of people that come and tell you, I had a dream about you and God told me to tell you… (whatever they feel they have to communicate to you). But as a spiritual person too, who prays and has a personal relationship with God, you wonder why God did not tell you the same thing? Now do not get me wrong, there are those instances where God communicates through other people when you have drifted far from Him. And there are also those moments when people feel the need to correct you because of something they know or think about you.
Now, most people find it hard to accept that we are all sinners, we all sin. There is no rank to sin, all murderers, thieves, liars go to hell (as is believed). God doesn’t measure sin, but there are those sins the Lord dislikes, I will quickly refer you to Proverbs 6:16–19 that talks about the seven sins the Lord hates. They include, “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” Even though the Lord distinguishes these sins, it doesn’t make them greater than any other sin.
God is a forgiving God when you are honest and open to Him, pray with a repentant heart and the Lord will forgive. Apologize to people you wrong whether they choose to receive it or not, you did your part and will be forgiven by God. Your relationship with God is personal, there is no formula to prayer, God listens to even the silent prayers in our hearts. The prayers we make while walking, while doing our chores, or any other activity, God listens. Do not ever allow anyone to ever make you feel that because of a certain sin, God will not listen to you. They do not know that… they are not God.
No one is holier than thou, we all sin, your pastor sins, your parents sin, your children sin, your peers sin, the church choir members sin… everyone sins. The best we can do is always repent and ask God to strengthen us not to give in to temptations. Stop judging people so harshly because they sin differently. Each time you reach the point of judging someone remember Matthew 7:1–5 which says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you again……” (you can read your Bible for the rest).
Learn to live with an open mind, learn to listen without assumptions, learn to forgive, learn to ask for forgiveness, give people the benefit of the doubt, and treat people as you would like to be treated. Do not let your pride and ego ruin wonderful relationships, friendships, and connections that are of value. Age is not a measure of wisdom, we are continuously learning and evolving. It is may happen that a fifteen-year-old has more wisdom than a thirty-year-old. We are all wired differently. But that is a topic for another day.
