Proverbs 24: 23-26 When the gavel falls . . .

²³ These also are sayings of the wise:

To show partiality in judging is not good:
²⁴ Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
²⁵ But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶ An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

Solomon has told us before that we should not show favoritism -- preferring the rich over the poor.  He has also warned us not to call the wicked "good," or the good "wicked."  But as I read these verses I was reminded of Paul's letter to the Romans; here is what he said in the second chapter:

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (Romans 2:1)

Now, please don't assume that I am saying we should not judge anything or anyone --- nope! Jesus told us to "judge righteous judgements" in  John 7:24. The King James version says it this way: 

 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

and the NIV tells us this way:

Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. (John 7:24)

 Jesus went on to tell us that we must first "clean up our own act" before we start in on someone else:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

We can't possibly judge a righteous judgement, if we use a different standard for ourselves, than we do for others. We must judge ourselves by the same criteria and make certain that we are not guilty of the same things, before we try to help our brothers and sisters. It's also impossible to judge a righteous judgement, if we venerate wicked people and use them as examples of "good."

No matter how well intentioned our efforts are, and how much we desire to help others, if they can look into our lives and see the same sins and problems, we had better climb down off our soapbox and straighten things out --- then we can try to assist others in their walk with Him.

Have a blessed weekend, my friends!