JUDGMENT & SELF-SEEKING (Romans 2:1-9)

JUDGEMENT & SELF-SEEKING: THE SYMPTOMS OF OUR IDOLATRY

We’ve been digging deep into the roots of our sin nature—and the idolatry that grows from those roots.

THE FOUR ROOTS OF IDOLATRY

Let’s start with the foundation of the sin nature. Our sin nature isn’t random. It springs from four deep roots:

1. Guilt – Since we were made in God’s image, we know we’ve offended a holy God because we inherit the curse from Eden.

2. Shame – The gnawing regret that we’ve grieved Him.

3. Insecurity – Separated from God, we ask, “Who will take care of me?”

4. Idolatry – We worship whatever we believe will give us security and pleasure.

These roots feed twelve idols—rebellion idols and need idols. We’ve walked through them step by step previously. Last week, we built the full idolatry worldview: We don’t sin because we’re “good people who slip up.” We sin because we’re idolaters at the core.

THE POISON DROP EXPERIMENT

Picture this: I add 1 drop of poison to a large pitcher of water and offer a cup. Who wants a drink? No takers. Why? It’s contaminated. One drop ruins the whole thing. That’s all of us. Indeed, we are capable of good works—but one drop of idolatry infects everything. We’re not “mostly good who sometines mess up”. We’re sinners to the core who believe the wrong things about God, ourselves, and the world. Sanctification? It’s the lifelong process of learning to love and submit to Jesus—replacing lies with truth, day by day.

THE TWO DEADLY SYMPTOMS OF IDOLATRY

Here’s the game-changer. Idolatry doesn’t just hide in the heart—it shows up in two destructive ways: Judgment and Self-Seeking.

Romans 2:1 tells us: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” We may not do all the exact same things, but as idolaters who sin, we are just as guilty! The implication of Romans 2 is clear: We are all guilty of judging one another. Judgment isn’t just criticism. It’s putting yourself in authority over another. “I’m better. I know better.” It’s sin—coming out of agreement with God.

Self-seeking is the extension that come from judgment. The Greek word used in Romans is eritheia, meaning “strife, contention, chaos.” Romans 2:8-9 warns that self-seekers reject truth and follow evil and will results in wrath, anger, trouble, and distress. James further elaborates on eritheia. James 3:16 – “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” Heavy language, to be sure! Paul further echoes the concept in Galatians 5 and 2 Corinthians—jealousy, rage, discord, factions. This isn’t minor. Indeed, this is a heavy-duty spiritual reality.

WHY WE JUDGE: THE EXPECTATION TRAP

We all have expectations. Many are legitimate. To be sure, our valid expectations are met much of the time. If I buy airline tickets from a reservation agent, I have every reasonable expectation that my purchase will be handled properly, an I’ll get to my destination without issue. The same goes for any number and types of dealings with people. 

But we live in a fallen world full of sinners. Realistically what’s the only thing we can  expect in a world filled with sinners? Sin. Yet we lock our doors, insure our cars, and still get shocked and feel violated when people fail us. Why? Because we have expectations. We make judgments when things don’t go right or go our way. We easily become judge, jury and executioner.  We feel violated!

· You’re at a stoplight. Someone rear-ends you. Do you say, “Praise the Lord!”?

· Or do you fume, “How could they?!”

We’ve all been there. A friend tells a story: One morning—after losing my dog hours earlier—an 18-year-old pulled out in front of me on wet roads. I had my dog in the back. I got out shaking. “What were you thinking?!” Then I caught myself. Took a breath. Asked if she was okay. Most times? We don’t. We judge. We hold grudges. We nurse bitterness. Jesus warned us: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He doesn’t promise to remove suffering. He promises to walk with us through it.

WHEN EXPECTATIONS ARE SHATTERED

Trauma, grief, present the choice to forgive. You may be dealing with abuse, betrayal, theft or significant disappointment. A good friend of mine took a bullet in the back. These aren’t mere minor inconveniences. They’re life-altering traumas. And when our childhood expectations—“Parents should protect me. People should be fair.”—get crushed, the pain stays. But here’s the truth: You don’t have to carry it forever.

You have a choice:

· Option 1: Live angry, resentful, stuck.

· Option 2: Forgive. Release. Walk in peace.

Forgiveness isn’t excusing evil. It’s refusing to let it define you.

VALUE & VALIDATION

Judgment and Self-seeking is also symptomatic of another issue: How do we value ourselves? Where do we seek our validation from? As sinful, prideful beings, we can easily seek our personal validation by considering ourselves above other I.e.; judgment. We become self-seekers, gaining our validation by considering ourselves better then others Where do you get your value and validation? This is where idolatry gets personal. We all crave:

· Meaning

· Purpose

· Affirmation

· Acceptance

· Intimacy

· Community

Nothing wrong with any of those. But idolatry/judgment/self-seeking says: “I’ll get my value and validation from people.”And people? They’re idolaters too. Fickle. Sinful. Exhausting. People-based value and validation then is derived through  the idols of performance and facade. In essence your self-image becomes “I am what others think I am.” And if you’re trying to please 5 or 10 or 50 different people—with 50 different standards, burnout is virtually guaranteed.

On the other hand, Jesus-based value tells you: “I am who Jesus says I am.”

· Jesus declared you perfect.

· He removed your guilt and shame.

· He loves you perfectly—and never changes.

· Your value = His life given for you.

· Your purpose = How God will use you to bear fruit.

When you give yourself 100% to Jesus, life becomes a daily walk of trust. Not perfection. Just faithfulness

LIVING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IN THE NATURAL REALM

Here’s the shift: You are so much more a natural person. God’s word tells us:

We are spiritual beings living a spiritual existence placed in the natural according to God’s purpose, plan, and will to influence and bear fruit that will last.

God’s ways are typical counterintuitive to what our natural instincts my tell us. The natural way says: “Save money and spend less to get out of debt.” The supernatural says: “Give more and bless your giving—and watch God multiply!” Why? Because God blesses obedience.

· Praise Him 24/7? He blesses it.

· Meditate on His Word? He blesses it.

· Give and bless when it hurts? He multiplies it.

It’s Kingdom economics. And it works—because He said so.

YOUR NEXT STEP

So here’s the question: Where are you seeking your value and validation?

· From the fickle court of human opinion?

· Or from the unchanging love of Jesus?

One drop of idolatry poisons everything. But surrender to Christ begins the cleansing.Tonight, let’s make the exchange:

· Lay down your judgments.

· Repent our Idolatry

· Release your expectations.

· Forgive the unforgivable.

· Receive your value and validation from the One who gave His life for you.

And walk free. Amen.

About the author: Rev. Dr. Nick Marica is the Vice-Chancellor of Amherst Theological Seminary, and he has a D. Min. from Amherst Theological Seminary. He has his MA from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of the book: "The Walk Applied: Living the New Creation Life as a Citizen of God's Kingdom in a Secular World". He has also written "The Fasting and Prayer Handbook". Nick has been married to Kathy since 1985, and they are the proud parents of 3 children.

Contact Nick at nick.marica@srcministry.org

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