Keller: Humility is essential for judging

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 26, 2020

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As we approach the general election on November 3, the voters in St. John Parish will decide the district judges who will make decisions that will affect all of us.

I’ll never forget, many years ago, when someone jokingly asked, “Mr. Keller, why don’t you run for judge?” My friend A.J. DeLaneuville, Sr., now deceased, said, “He doesn’t need to be elected. He judges people every day.”

A.J. was right. I was judgmental, which is described as a person making or tending to make judgments as to value, importance and considered to be lacking in tolerance, compassion and objectivity. That was me.

As Christians, if we pray for wisdom from God and not man, He gives us a spirit of discernment which can only come from the Holy Spirit. This means the power of discerning as keen perception or judgment, insight and having, or showing, a clever or shrewd mind. Only the Holy Spirit can give us a taste of that.

I admit that I’m still judgmental, but when I am, I immediately realize that it’s not Christian.

At my age, I’ve seen many judges come and go. Many who sought the office and were elected were humble until they put on the robe of a judge. Then pride took over.

This year, as those who are elected take the oath of office, I pray that they will keep in mind 1 Peter 5:5, “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.”

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084 or call (985) 652-8477.