Our society has an affinity for certain judges.
Judge Judy has it going on!
In July 2010 when Judy Sheindlin’s contract was renewed for Judge Judy, her salary increased to $45 million per year. It was later reported in October 2013 that Sheindlin is the highest-paid TV star, earning $47 million per year for her show, which translates into just over $900,000 per workday (she works 52 days per year).
A job that pays $47 million and only works for 52 days seems fascinating (and appealing) to me.
Until I stop to think about what that job is.
In reading about Judge Judy I discovered some reviews from people who appeared on her show. One review was by a lady who had a small claim because her neighbor’s tree fell on her rabbit hutch. Now – the rabbits were not inside, so they were not damaged. However, the hutch had $600 of damages, and the neighbor would not pay. Thus they appeared on Judge Judy.
I found myself immediately making judgments based on the review that I read. (Which, mind you, did not contain the opposing side).
I, and I believe a lot of us, are very quick to judge.
We must be if Judge Judy is the highest paid TV personality today. Something about judging intrigues us.
What is it about Judge Judy that causes it to be so popular among the American people?
Maybe it is that we like directness and honesty.
Or maybe we like it when people “get what they deserve.”
Or, maybe we like both.
In The Shack Mack encounters Sophia – which is wisdom, and enters dialogue about God and judgment.
So that Mack could gain a broader, more true understanding of God, rather than his human, limited understanding, Sophia asked Mack to choose one child to spend eternity with God and one child to spend eternity separated from God.
Mack couldn’t believe what he was hearing, panicked, and then refused.
“Mackenzie, I am only asking you to do something that you believe God does. God knows every person ever conceived, and God knows him or her so much deeper and clearer than you will ever know your own children. He loves each one according to his knowledge of the being of that son or daughter.”
God is the ultimate judge. Therefore, we don’t need to.
When we get involved with the minutia of life, the good, the bad, the wins, the losses, the joy, the pain/disappointment, then we start deciding what is good and what is not. We begin judging what and who is worthy of God, God’s grace and God’s love and what/who is not.
Yet, God’s grace and love are extended to all people. Let us, instead of judging who is worthy and who is not, let us be extenders of that grace.
The Apostle Paul writes,
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Ephesians 4: 1-7 NIV