The Judgment Seat

When you go out for an afternoon or evening of poker, do you take time to meet the players and make some friends?  Or do you use that time to "figure them out"?

Maybe you should be doing the latter -- because a recent Washington Post article revealed the best poker players probably are doing that to you.  Newcomers at the table seem to get special attention.  The attitude they present gets analyzed -- and even what sort of money they bring.

Does that seem fair?  Or, to be honest, does that seem a bit like real life?

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? - James 2:2-4

These Bible verses were written to church-going believers in Jesus.  Yet they could be like us all -- easily jumping to conclusions about the people they meet.

We think Bugs Bunny's classic cartoon line was correct: "Did you ever get the feeling you were being watched?"  We all are to some extent -- whether by poker players looking for angles, or next-door neighbors wondering if we can be trusted with the keys when they go on vacation.

We've found one way to have success in the things we do is not to "tip our hand" early.  And that means more than how we play poker hands.  It means listening carefully to other people, as opposed to taking charge of a conversation....

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. - James 1:19

It's about being patient - with your tongue as well as your poker chips.  You might wind up receiving more clues than you give away, and that can work to your advantage.  And if you're a believer in Jesus, it might reveal better ways to open lines of discussion about your faith.