Four short stories that teach valuables lessons as to why we should not judge others. Also includes links to two videos, “Judging Others? Stop it!” and “Looking through Windows.”
Romans 14: 13 reads:
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
What an important lesson this scripture verse teaches. The importance of not judging one another but rather judge ourselves on if we are doing anything that would cause others to be less faithful to God or cause them harm or trouble of any kind.
Often times our judging leads to turning others away from God, which is very sad. It is not our place to judge others for we do not know a person’s heart or true intention and when we do judge, it is oftentimes out of pride, a result of wrong information, or with not enough facts. We are not meant to judge others, we are meant to love others as Christ would that we may lead them to Christ and not away.
The following short stories teach us valuable lessons on judging others.
Four Silent Friends
(Adapted Story from MoralStories26)
There once were four friends who enjoyed meditation. One day they decided that they would observe silence for seven days. They each vowed not to say one word during those seven days.
Since they wouldn’t be speaking, they decided it would be wise to hire an assistant for those seven days to attend to their needs while they spent their time meditating.
Their silence began early the next day. Although they did not speak at all, the entire day passed fairly quickly with no problems. That evening the assistant lit an oil lamp. As time passed by, the oil got less and the light from the lamp got dimmer but the assistant’s attention was elsewhere.
Seeing this, the first friend couldn’t help himself and shouted, “Attend to the lamps!”
Listening to this, the second friend said, “Have you forgotten? You are not supposed to speak!”
Just then the third friend piped up, “You fools! Why are you talking?”
The last friend exclaimed, “Huh! I am the only one who has kept silent.”
MORAL: We sometimes judge very quickly forgetting that we too are not perfect in our actions and behaviors. Jesus taught, “Judge not, that ye be not judged…And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7: 1, 3)
Lighted Lamp
(Adapted Story from MoralStories26)
Once in a small town lived an old blind man. He was blind yet while walking out at night he would carry a lighted lamp with him.
One night while he was out of his house, a group of young travelers saw him. After seeing him they realized that he was blind. The travelers couldn’t understand why a blind person would carry a lighted lamp and started to make fun of him.
One of the travelers was very curious and asked, “You are blind and can’t see anything so why do you carry a lighted lamp with you?”
The blind man replied, “Yes, I am blind and can’t see anything but I still carry a lighted lamp with me for people like you who can see. If I walk at night without a lamp, one may not be able to see me coming and run into me.”
They felt ashamed for their behavior and apologized.
MORAL: We don’t always understand why people do things. Don’t judge, try to understand.
You Are Not a Fish
(Adapted Story from MoralStories26)
One day Chen and his friend were strolling along a riverbank. They stopped by a river for a moment to gaze at the water.
Seeing fishes, Chen exclaimed, “Look at those fishes. Oh, how they are enjoying themselves!”
“How can you say that?” asked his friend. “How would you know if they are having a good time? You are not a fish.”
Chen replied, “You aren’t me either. So how would you know that I don’t know the fish are having fun?”
MORAL: Others’ perceptions are as valid as our own. Don’t judge for they may see or know things we do not.
Old Saying
There’s an old saying that goes:
Wouldn’t this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say:
“I know something good about you,”
And then treat us that way?
The Troublemaker
President N. Eldon Tanner once shared this story:
There is a little story about Sister McKay, the wife of President David O. McKay, when she began teaching school. As the principal introduced her to the class, he pointed to a certain boy and said he was a troublemaker. She sensed the boy’s embarrassment and feared he would live up to his reputation, so she wrote a note and slipped it to him as she passed his desk. It said, “Earl, I think the principal was mistaken about your being a bad boy. I trust you, and know that you are going to help me make this room the best in the school.” Earl not only became a paragon of scholastic virtue but also one of the town’s most important people.
(To read President Tanner’s full talk, click HERE)
MORAL: Replace judgment with kindness.
There are two great videos the church has put out on not judging others that are great for Family Home Evening or Sunday lessons.
“Judging Others? Stop It!” Click HERE
“Looking through Windows” Click HERE
For more insights on the topic of judgment, be sure and listen to my podcast Episode 18 where I discuss the difference between how the world judges us and how the Lord does. Click HERE.
Be sure and check out my Amazon’s Favorites page where I list all of my favorite church books, music and more! Some of them include:
Yours Truly,
P.S. These stories were used in a Teach Me FHE Outline. Sign up below and receive your weekly FHE outline that goes along with the Come Follow Me reading assignments, making Family Home Evening preparation as simple as possible for you!
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