Making Valid Evaluations
Proper priorities are needed to make correct judgments (cf. 1 Tim 5:4, Moffatt). We also need accurate information on all pertinent areas to be able to have a reliable judgment (Jn 18:23, Phillips; Prov 18:13). As vital as this is, though, it is not enough. Sometimes our assessment is wrong because our expectations are too high. For example, our spouse may be at least a decent mate but because we expect too much, we judge them harshly and might even divorce them. This is wrong.
Errors in judgment can also be a result of such things as unduly prioritizing some truth (“My wife is a poor cook” cf. Mk 7:11, JNTC note), being mostly pessimistic (“I can’t do anything to improve our marriage and she is not capable of change”), or wanting to believe that a certain, plausible interpretation of the data is definitely true (“My husband is not very interested in sex – so he must be committing adultery”). In addition, if we want to impress others or be right, we will tend to see what we want (Acts 23:6-9). Furthermore, we may have a reasonable interpretation of the facts but if we lack tenderness, due to our own agenda, we can easily be led into error. Envy, too, will cloud our judgment (Mt 27:18).
Making valid evaluations is difficult. Most of the best religious minds of Jesus’ day made the ultimate error in judgment by viewing Him as a spiritual fraud rather than as being Lord and Savior (Jn 19:15). Surely, we must be careful about displaying the arrogance of definiteness in many of our judgments (1 Cor 2:6-8). This should help us be more compassionate and tender – leading to a greater likelihood we will come closer to the truth. “You have no tenderness, nothing but truth, and so you judge unjustly” (Dostoevski).
Unending pleasure in the next life; training for godly pleasure in this one.