If you have spent any time in the Word you understand there will be a time when everyone will appear before Jesus Who is the Judge of all mankind (John 5:22). He is worthy to judge us considering He lived and died to be be able to offer us salvation and new life in Him at His expense. 

What I didn’t realize is that at the Judgement there is another factor that takes the Judgement to a whole new level. For that we look at 1 Corinthians 4. Paul is defending himself regarding criticism he has received. He says that he isn’t concerned if they judge him because he knows he will be judged by the Lord ultimately. He says “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4). 

Then he says, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

The “hidden things of darkness” are our works, the things we have done. That is no surprise. We expect to be judged for what we have done. But, we are also to be judged regarding “the counsels of the hearts,” our motives! Oh brothers, that takes it to a whole new level. Something we did may have been good, but what was our motivation, our glory or our Savior’s? He purchased us with His blood. Shouldn’t it all be done for His glory? We are His servants.