I was out listening to some live music with some friends one night, enjoying the nice weather, being social, and people watching… which I could do ALL DAY.
The dance floor was not a dance floor, more like a walkway where people just ended up gathering to feel the rhythm of the blues keyboardist and singer. An older lady was in the middle of the dance area, and she was having the time of her life! I had been watching her for quite some time, feeling embarrassed for her, as she moved her hips and arms all wild. She wasn’t worried about anything, especially how she looked! Her smile was ear to ear, and she grabbed anyone who walked by to take a few turns with them.
Now I am not normally a person who tears others down, I actually hate that and will interrupt you when I hear it. But on this particular day, I got lax, and I got critical, and the Holy Spirit humbled me…. QUICK.
I leaned over and whispered to my UNSAVED friend, “whatever you do, don’t you EVER let me look like that!” nodding toward the dancing lady. We both laughed.
Her UNSAVED husband overheard us laughing and asked what we were giggling about, so she quietly filled him in on the crazy ole’ lady flailing about. He looked at her and said, “that’s not very nice… leave her alone; she’s just having fun.”
Well, I don’t know about you, but my party is immediately over when conviction slaps ME in the face like that. I wanted to crawl in a hole. He didn’t know I heard him say that. I just sat on my stool feeling really dumb.
I thought, “so, my unsaved friends love people more than I do? That’s great. And I am a pastor. I am a leader. I am A CHRISTIAN. That is the example I want to set for people I am trying to win to Jesus??”
I was so ashamed. I have overheard many women being critical of other women around me, even pastors, that I swore I would never be like that. And then I was. I repented. I made up my mind I would change right on the spot.
I read this verse shortly after this little wake-up call…
“He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9 NKJV
M.Henry’s commentary on this verse says the ‘generous eye’ is someone who seeks out objects of charity so that they can bring a blessing to them. It’s the eye that sees someone in need, in any way, and their heart is affected with compassion, so they move to action. They are on the lookout for someone in misery, sadness, or struggling. They see those who could use a helping hand and give of themselves – not only giving from their abundance but giving out of their own portion. It said that God would bless those who live like that.
I understood this doesn’t just mean food for the poor. This meant my words, my attitude, and my heart towards others, my actions, my kindness, my care, my grace, my service to others… those are all things I need to be seeking to give to those in need. I told the Lord I would give whatever He wants me to give to anyone who has need. I want to be Jesus everywhere I go.
How did I end up so far from where Jesus wanted me to be? Freely handing out a critical spirit and making fun of someone? I’m not sure, but He was on it like white on rice!! His grace is so sufficient that He took about 30 seconds to straighten me out. I am SOOO thankful for that.
I was thinking about the dancing woman later, and I applauded her in my mind. I thought – “good for you, dancing lady. Enjoy your life, let your hair down, have fun, live it to its fullest… because life will beat you down if you let it.”
But more importantly, let’s not beat ONE ANOTHER down. Consider that the people we are quick to judge and criticize…. are just people trying to live their lives, make the best of it, and survive it!
I want to ADD to people’s lives, think the best of them, love them, support them, and cheer them on in any way I can. I want to touch people’s lives like Jesus would.
Take a lesson from the dancing lady, live hard and love hard, my sistas.
OTHER RESOURCES & LINKS:
Destiny Church Sermon:
Gossip: The Power of the Tongue by Rich Witmer
Warriors & Wildmen
E107: Satan Loves It When We Compare Ourselves To ‘Worse Sinners’