保羅在這裡顯得有點驕傲：「我被你們論斷或被別人論斷，我都以為極小的事，連我自己也不論斷自己。」（4：3）他拒絕錯誤的罪惡感。

        心理學告訴我們，罪惡感有兩種：錯的罪惡感和對的罪惡感。當你因無法達到他人或自己的的期望而自責時，那是錯的罪惡感。當你違反道德律時，那才是對的罪惡感。前者是由自己主觀的心理造成的；後者根據客觀的標準，才是真正的罪惡感。

        最終只有一位審判官是我們應當在乎的。保羅所怕的也就是這位審判官──「但判斷我的乃是主」（4節下）。

        但為什麼要受制於審判呢？為什麼不吃、喝、享樂、死亡──快快樂樂的消聲匿跡，不需對任何人負責？

        如果你像我一樣平凡，你大概也曾希望自己不必一直對自己、對家庭、對朋友，或對上帝負這麼多責任。有時你真想自私一點。

        但對基督徒而言，人生卻非如此。主就快再來。這個真理是我們的盼望，也管制我們的生活。我們都要在主面前交帳。我們將面對最高法院而再也沒有上訴的機會。

        感謝上帝，我們已經有一位最好的律師──耶穌基督自己長遠活著為我們「代求」（來7：25）。祂知道人生的景況，因此能為人作最好的辯護。

        親愛的父上帝，謝謝您賜給我們耶穌，祂使我們得著永生，又在我們最大的審判官，您的面前為我們代求。請幫助我過有紀律的生活，並知道我們對您的責任。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Paul appears a touch arrogant here. “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court,” he says. Not only does he have little regard for what people think of him, he doesn’t really care what he himself thinks of himself, “I do not even judges myself” (4:3). He refuses to succumb to false guilt.

        Psychology tells us there are two kinds of guilt: false guilt and true guilt. False guilt occurs when you accept the blame for not meeting the expectation of others, or yourself. True guilt occurs when you transgress moral law; one is subjective in its orientation, the other objective.

        In the final analysis, there’s only one Judge who should concern us. It’s this Judge that Paul fears – “It is the Lord who judges me.” (v.4b NIV).

        But here’s the sticky part. Why be subject to judgment at all? Why not eat, drink, be merry, and die – blissfully extinct and obliged to no one?

        Well, for the Christian, that’s not how it works. The Lord is coming. That truth is our hope and our discipline. We’re going to be called to account. We’ll be facing the ultimate court with no chance of further appeal.

        Thank God we’ve got a good lawyer – Jesus Christ Himself, ever living “to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25). He knows what it’s like to be human and He pleads a good case.

        Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus who gives us access to eternal life and intercedes for us before You, our ultimate judge. Help us to discipline our lives, knowing our accountability to You.