Proverbs 29:1 If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.
Norman Vincent Peal said, “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
False praise can get us into trouble and can trip us up into believing our own self-made doctrines brought forth from the gospel of self. Gal. 6:8a For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption. Submitting and listening through discernment, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit will guard and keep us from falling into the traps of false and unrealistic grandeur caused by the hype of the crowd. Gal. 6:8b But he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Jesus understood what motivated man. The human condition judges from a platform of trends and the nuances of the majority, even when the majority is wrong. John 2:23 In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw him work miracles. 24 But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he would not let them have power over him.
The crowd is with you one moment, then with a Twitter storm of slander will criticize you the next. The standard the crowd uses for non-constructive criticism of others is fear based and driven by insecurity of their own self-worth. It is hard to accept others when you cannot accept yourself. Sin consciousness will cause this behavior in people.
Fickleness and populous opinions will make critics out of everyone. We actually have the audacity to sit back and judge, criticize, and belittle God for what goes wrong in the world, but not take the time to thank Him when anything goes right. Everyone is a critic, but not everyone can build with the critical truth of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 2:14 Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
When God corrects, convicts, or is critical of our behavior toward Him or someone else, He directs us through love and helps us overcome that area of our lives needing work and change. Isa. 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
God’s direction will be led by the truth of His word. His will for us is victory over the stubbornness of our flesh so that we eventually come under God’s authority and will through Jesus Christ. God wants us to be healed in life, not crushed because of disobedience. Prov. 29:1 If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.
If we are going to be critics in life, then let the criticism be on our own behavior so that we can line up with the will and call of God. As is often said, “There are three fingers pointing back at ourselves when we point at others.”
Perhaps the three points should become three questions we ask ourselves before we speak out with some ungodly criticism. Is what I am about to do pleasing to the Lord? Am I going to inspire faith with what I am about to say? Is what I am about to act out going to be a blessing? Maybe you have your own three questions to help you become what God wants you to be. Then ask them and respond positively in Jesus name. Amen!
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