⁴ Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Verse four is an exhortation to both strong and weak believers not to judge each other, because God ratifies each one on His own terms.

⁴ Who are you [emphatic] to judge another’s servant [domestic servant]?

It is God’s verdict on what others believe that counts. Someone who judges another denotes himself a self-appointed critic of a child of God. Doing this assumes God’s role of determining motives. A Christian who does this plays god.

To his own master [lord] he stands or falls.

When it comes to a household servant, he stands or falls on what his master thinks of him. The master of the house determines whether the servant’s service is adequate or not.

Indeed, he will be made to stand,

If God makes the stronger believer “to stand,” then it is not appropriate for the weaker brother to usurp God’s role in judging His servant. The same can be said for the weaker Christian.

for God is able to make him stand.

The strong and the weak will stand because God made them to stand. If God does not make an issue of Christian’s perspective on a non-moral issue, then we should not either.

PRINCIPLE:

All believers should receive all other Christians as God receives them.

APPLICATION:

It is God’s judgment that counts in the area of doubtful things. In the final analysis God will pronounce divine judgment on how worthy a servant may be for reward. An attempt to disenfranchise another believer usurps God’s role. The Lord will adjudicate what is proper in areas where people may have qualms about things.

When we judge others we arrogate to ourselves what should be God’s prerogative. Judging is God’s role. He does not put us in the place of disciplining those who are out of line with the principles of Scripture.

We all serve the same Lord. The Lord will deal with both strong and weak believers personally. We can leave nonessential issues in His hands. Matters of secondary importance we leave with the Lord.