Consequences of Judging
There was an old man who each day ate three biscuits. A brother came to him, and when they sat down to eat the old man set three biscuits before the brother.
The old man saw that the brother needed more food and brought him three more biscuits. After they had their fill and got up,the old man condemned the brother and said to him, “It is not right, brother, to serve the flesh.”
The brother asked pardon and left.
The next time the old man ate, he placed before himself three biscuits, as was his custom. He ate them, and was still hungry although he restrained himself. Again the next day he withstood his hunger.
The old man began to weaken and he knew that God had abandoned him.
Prostrating himself before God with tears, he begged that he be not abandoned. Then he saw an angel who said to him, “Because you condemned your brother, this has happened to you. Know therefore that the ability to deny the flesh or to do any good work is not within your power;rather it is the goodness of God which strengthens you.”
The old man saw that the brother needed more food and brought him three more biscuits. After they had their fill and got up,the old man condemned the brother and said to him, “It is not right, brother, to serve the flesh.”
The brother asked pardon and left.
The next time the old man ate, he placed before himself three biscuits, as was his custom. He ate them, and was still hungry although he restrained himself. Again the next day he withstood his hunger.
The old man began to weaken and he knew that God had abandoned him.
Prostrating himself before God with tears, he begged that he be not abandoned. Then he saw an angel who said to him, “Because you condemned your brother, this has happened to you. Know therefore that the ability to deny the flesh or to do any good work is not within your power;rather it is the goodness of God which strengthens you.”
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