HANDLING CRITICISM

My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

1 Corinthians 4:4

"Let not thy peace depend on the tongues of men," said the wise old Christian mystic, Thomas à Kempis; "for whether they judge well or ill, thou art not on that account other than thyself."

The desire to stand well with our fellow men is a natural one, and quite harmless up to a point, but when that desire becomes so all-consuming that we cannot be happy apart from the praises of men, it is no longer harmless, it is sinful in itself and injurious in its effects. One of the first things a Christian should get used to is abuse. The sweetest soul ever to live in this world was subjected to an ever-increasing barrage of vile calumny during His walk among men; and if they so used the Master of the house, how can the servants hope to escape?

The only way to avoid evil tongues is to withdraw entirely from the society of men; and even then there might be those who would raise a meaningful eyebrow and suggest that perhaps after all we may have a pretty good reason for getting under cover! To do nothing is to get abused for laziness, and to do anything is to get abused for not doing something else.

Thought

How vulnerable we are to the criticism of others, particularly those whom we respect. There is the danger that we listen more closely to the praise and criticism of others than to God. It is God whom we serve today and tomorrow.

Prayer

Lord, You know that I do and say much that is deserving of criticism. May I change where You show me and may I follow Your will even when others do not understand.

https://www.cmalliance.org/devotions/tozer?id=465