He Who Despises His Neighbor Sins

He Who Despises His Neighbor Sins

There are many temptations and dangers, also in the spiritual realm. It is correct to detest and despise the evil, but it is never correct to despise weak and wretched people—even though they are fairly unsympathetic, all the time they have a longing for godly things. Despising lowly people is a sin that is firmly ingrained in many people. It is also a grave danger for those brothers who are shepherds and leaders, and I have noticed more than once that they have sinned in this area.

This is easily understandable. They want the church to be as pure and as glorious as possible. Such weak and lowly people who are doing poorly or badly can easily seem to be an obstacle to that end. One can easily fall into the sin of despising them, being bitter toward them, and getting sick and tired of them.

A high degree of God’s goodness in heart and mind is required to be able to be blameless on this point. This is where this word applies: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:17.

The worse they are the greater becomes the shepherd’s, the church’s, and God’s glory—when you endure with them. The greater the difficulty, the greater the victory and the glory!

With these words I would like to exhort each and every one—especially the shepherds—to be awake in this area. Let us remember Jesus’ words: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48.