by Michael Thomas<\/p>\n
We’ve all been told unpleasant things.<\/p>\n
“You’re not doing this right.”<\/p>\n
“You could’ve done this better.”<\/p>\n
You’re not as good at this as he is.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Criticism justified or not, is a part of life, so how can we benefit from it?<\/p>\n
Listen to It<\/h2>\n
As painful as it is to hear our critics, they are often telling us truthful things about ourselves. They may not always tell us for the right reasons, but most of the time they have found something in our lives that is lacking – which is why they are pleased to tell us. Before we react emotionally through pride, we should humble ourselves by listening to what others have to say. We may hear something we need to know. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning<\/em>” (Proverbs 9:9).<\/p>\n
Correct It<\/h2>\n
No discipline is pleasant, not even from God, but “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it<\/em>” (Hebrews 12:11).<\/p>\n
I may growl at those who shoot me down from the lofty opinion I hold of myself, but when the smoke is cleared, and I finally stop attacking my critics, I may be left with behavior that still needs correcting as well as a newly damaged ego. If we discard every negative comment someone says to us we will never improve. “A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident<\/em>” (Proverbs 14:16).<\/p>\n
Ignore It<\/h2>\n
Lest we think that all criticism is good, let me also emphasize that some of it is not worth listening to. There are a lot of people who are filled with “bitter envy and self-seeking<\/em>” in their hearts, who “boast and lie against the truth<\/em>,” even among God’s people (James 3:14; II Corinthians 12:20). In cases as these, we should:<\/p>\n
\n
- remember that we too can be and have been overcritical (read Ecclesiastes 7:21-22);<\/li>\n
- commit ourselves to Him who judges righteously (I Peter 2:23);<\/li>\n
- pray for those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44-45).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The main thing is that we do not become unjust critics ourselves. We all will be tempted to strike back at those who hurt us or tell us to repent. Whatever the case, let us not suffer as “an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters<\/em>,” but as a Christian. This may mean we hold our tongue while hearing unpleasant things about ourselves, but that’s okay because you can “Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you<\/em>” (Proverbs 9:8).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Michael Thomas We’ve all been told unpleasant things. “You’re not doing this right.” “You could’ve done this better.” You’re not as good at this as he is.” Criticism justified or not, is a part of life, so how can we benefit from it? Listen to It As painful as it is to hear our…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[794],"class_list":["post-41858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-criticism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26295,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/moments-that-test-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":0},"title":"Moments that Test Us","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Thomas Persecution reveals the quality of our faith in the same way fire reveals the nature of metal (I Peter 1:7). But persecution is not the only moment that reveals our character. There are other scenes in life that are just as effective in exposing our inner man:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/lonely-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59299,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reproof\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":1},"title":"Reproof","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ethan R. Longhenry \"Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; but he that hateth reproof is brutish\" (Proverbs 12:1). \"A wise son heareth his father's instruction; but a scoffer heareth not rebuke\"\u00a0(Proverbs 13:1). \"A fool despiseth his father's correction; but he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence\" (Proverbs 15:5). One of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28957,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/button-that-pocket-soldier\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":2},"title":"Button That Pocket, Soldier!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant A retired Army officer recalled an incident when he inspected some recruits who had just finished basic training. He stood right in front of one, making the young man quite nervous. The officer noted an unbuttoned pocket flap on the private's shirt, and barked out in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Drill_instructor_at_the_Officer_Candidate_School-300x220.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62355,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/everyones-a-critic\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":3},"title":"Everyone’s a Critic","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 29, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 9:7-12 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Everyone faces days when it feels as if nothing is going right. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People find fault with what you do and you think that nothing can please them. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Criticism, justified or not, isn\u2019t pleasant to receive \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re not doing that right.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5350,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-handle-criticism\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":4},"title":"How do you handle criticism?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 18, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What are the biblical teachings concerning criticism, forgiveness, and how to deal with criticism? Criticism has many faces, but I'm inquiring about the kind that can mar a person's self-esteem and his good reputation. Answer: How you handle criticism depends on why you are being criticized. \"For this is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24889,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/consider-the-source\/","url_meta":{"origin":41858,"position":5},"title":"Consider the Source (Hamilton)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 19, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 24:15-22 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A fellow preacher, whom I\u2019ve corresponded with for several years, wrote concerned about how to address a problem. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He had recently contacted a man who had been in a preacher\u2019s training program and moved into the area a few months prior.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41858"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41858\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}