Sober Minded Judgment

If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, ³² but when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32

Often when we think of judgment, it is a topic that many Christian circles would prefer to avoid. Here in this verse Paul is making a statement with regards to a right judgment or evaluation. A right evaluation is necessary to our approach to the Lord’s Supper. This is incredibly important! As Paul mentions in verse 29 For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,^[i] eats and drinks judgment on himself. A wrong approach is a heaping of judgment upon one’s self!

I don’t believe that Paul means to simply avoid sickness through a right evaluation either (1 Corinthians 11:30). I believe Paul means to spend much time with the Lord, knowing Him and knowing the sin we’ve committed. As in knowing that God gave us understanding of the sin we have committed against Him, the good evaluation is found in quality time with the Lord.

In verse 32 we see the result of God’s judgment leading to discipline. There are two responses from sin in this verse. The first response is God’s discipline, so going back to verse 30 we can see that God’s judgment results in illness. So the first response anyone who gets sick should humbly ask themselves “am I in sin?” The second response is God’s judgment leading to discipline. If illness is a result of God’s discipline, then we know the grace and mercy of our Lord when we are disciplined.

Paul wants us to be reminded that God’s discipline is not like His condemnation, but rather God is keeping us from being condemned. We all need to have a sober minded judgment when we approach the Lord’s Supper! Let us continually hold to the Lord’s commands, judging ourselves rightly so not to be judged by our Lord.