Are we Called to be Fruit Inspectors?

 

Someone sometime ago came up with some line that we are not to judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors. Whoever said it first, was 100% wrong.

What gives us the right to judge the "fruit" of others? First of all, we have no diea what they may or not may not be doing for the Lord. Since we do not spend every waking hour with them, how are we able to judge what they do?

We are not called to tell people what their ministry is. We are not called to tell people that we can do their ministry better. All of us, in our own ways, can have a ministry. We all are important.

Everyone should read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:21-22 NIV

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Our weakest members are part of the body. Their ministry is just as important as others.

The Pharisees would be quick to criticize the widow for giving 2 small coins. But Jesus praised her above all of them. She gave her all.

Would you have been a fruit inspector on that poor widow?

Are we in some contest, that we must boast about our fruit, and check to see if others are keeping up?

Who gives us the right to boast that our fruit is better? Or more important? And that someone else's is not enough... Think about that.

The Pharisees were the epitome of fruit inspectors. Look at what they accused Jesus of. Blasphemy, drinking, eating, breaking the Sabbath, havig a demon. They constantly criticized His miracles and compassion.

Is that what you are doing to others? 

Listen to what Jesus said to those expert fruit inspectors:

Matthew 23:27-28 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

We can be fruit inspectors. That is, fruit inspectors of ourselves. Inspect your own fruit and stop looking in other church member's baskets.