Evil suspicions about people come from our sinful human nature. You see and hear things about someone and then you quickly judge them according to how you understand it with your sinful human mind. Often, you are just a busybody mixing yourself into other people’s business. And that creates a lot of unrest first for yourself, and also for others when you talk to them about it. You can even sound like you care for the person when you talk about him but underneath all this talking, you think far too highly of yourself.
The human way of thinking or God’s way of thinking
Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24. If you ask people why they have a certain opinion, you will often see that it is just suspicion, it is based on incomplete information and assumptions in their own or other people’s thoughts. Maybe they only heard it from their family members or others who may be hurt or offended. This is not righteous at all.
It is the opposite of the example left by Christ and His true servants. “… he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears …” Isaiah 11:3 (NIV).
When people do something that hurts us, or we hear that they said something bad about us, it is so easy to get upset or to go and find support and sympathy from unspiritual people.
Sirach writes: “Question a friend, perhaps he did not do it; but if he did anything, so that he may do it no more. Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say it; but if he said it, so that he may not say it again. Question a friend, for often it is slander; so do not believe everything you hear.” Sirach 19:13-15 (RSV). This could often be the simple answer to come to rest, and in this way you strengthen fellowship rather than damaging it.
Evil suspicions come from a lack of love
The apostle was sure that the brothers and sisters in Rome were “full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.” Romans 15:14 (ESV).
Often, I do not have enough goodness and love for the others. This is why I allow these evil suspicions to stay in my thoughts, when I could have spoken to the person, in the hope of bringing help.
“But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:14-16 (NLT).
Things easily become difficult and confusing if you use the wisdom that is from the earth. Then you open yourself to the source of evil and can quickly become impure. You can so easily start doubting, criticising and even condemning someone who you loved and who was precious to you. If this happens, you have come far away from simply being faithful to Christ. You have allowed selfishness or jealousy into your heart.
The true teaching of the gospel
“Some people will teach what is false and will not agree with the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will not accept the teaching that produces a life of devotion to God. They are proud of what they know, but they understand nothing. They are sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. And that brings jealousy, quarrels, insults, and evil mistrust [suspicions].” 1 Timothy 6:3-4 (ERV).
Let us stop with all our foolish human reasonings and hold fast to the true teaching of the gospel, the source of all salvation, blessedness, and fellowship. Let us, as Jesus commanded, deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. Let us not give in to these sinful thoughts, let us not judge so that we will not be judged. Let us admit that we need God’s spirit, and let us love just as He also loved us. Let us focus on working on our own development and remain in the teachings of Jesus, for if we do this, we will save ourselves and those who hear us. And let us seek to live in peace with everyone and be holy, for those who are not holy will never see the Lord. (Luke 9:23; Matthew 7:1; Matthew 5:3; John 13:34; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 12:14.)