Criticism

She has been teaching a bible study series to ladies titled "Life on the High Road", and addressing the many other roads we embark upon to get to the high road. Yesterday's lesson was on the dirt road, a staging ground for something that we all come face to face with; criticism. We sling it in one direction and are pretty much guaranteed that it will come right back at us from another. My daughter Jennifer has been a regular attendee to Pam's bible study class at Second Baptist, and every once in a while I will have a chance to join her. This was one of those times for God knew I needed the lesson both as a slinger and as a target.

I knew the story but not until yesterday had I ever related it to criticism. Remember the story of Absalom, David's son convincing and manipulating the Israelites and gaining favor with them so that he could be king. A great story of conspiracy:

When David was given word that the hearts of the people were for Absalom, David made arrangements with all of his officials to move quickly and flee Jerusalem so that they would not be put to ruin and the city would not be put to sword. As he and his army moved out and approached a nearby town, a man named Shimel came upon them and pelted them with rocks and stones, blurting out curses all the while. David's men wanted to cut his head off, but David remained calm and said, "My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."

Fast forward the story: Absalom ends up catching his hair on a tree while he was riding...horse leaves him hanging, is killed by David's followers, David regains throne and Shimel comes with his tail between his legs asking for forgiveness.
2 Samuel 15 and 16 and 19.

Moral: Criticism is non effective if it doesn't stick

So what do you do when you are criticized?
1) Try to find the Lord's hand in any situation
2) Be thick skinned...Pam said she tells her kids when criticized to think of your skin as Teflon ...I loved that!
3) Remember your own sinfulness
4) Know who you are...you are defined by God not by man
5) Be Forgiving
6) Be free from Bitterness.

It is pretty easy to throw out dirt....and sometimes much harder to withhold critical viewpoints. Next time before you throw out a clinched fist full of dirt..consider David...he was a man after God's own heart and instead of cutting off the man's head who was cursing him...he somehow found God's hand upon the situation, didn't let the critics get to him, remembered his own faults, knew that the only one who he truly needed to please was God, he forgave and he had nothing to regret which left him free to live.....and in the end he was blessed without measure by God. Now who wouldn't want that kind of outcome? But the deal is David was just living out his relationship with the Lord. He didn't know how this all would turn out...oh but God did.

1 Corinthians 16:9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

We can't be "on" all the time and do the right thing all the time, and God doesn't expect that of us. He just wants us grow in our relationship with Him, one tiny step of grace in front of another, putting Him first before our own selfish impulsive motives. When we treat others with a kind and loving respect even though they may not deserve it, we are taking that tiny step of grace and following by example what Christ has done for us.

Whenever we are in the midst of effective service....the enemy will try to find a way to derail us...often times it is through criticism....and other dirt slinging methods. May we learn to shield the slings, and dodge the temptation to be the slinger.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the blessing of this message that you gave me through Pam. I do need some tougher skin and I also need your help to wipe clean the dirt that is so often left behind when I am the slinger. I am just glad you continue to be patience and that I continue to learn these valuable lessons....help them to be what stick to my skin and my heart. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!