A
thought by James MacDonald (2015-06-18) from his book, Lord, Change My Attitude: Before It's Too Late (p. 134). Moody
Publishers. Kindle Edition. (Click
on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
Are you a
critical person? James says, “Ultimately,
criticism inflates the self.” And we
know what God thinks about that, don’t we? He doesn't like it.
James says, “Oswald
Chambers, the great devotional writer, wrote, ‘Beware of anything that puts you
in the place of the superior person.’ Anything that makes you feel superior is
not conducive to your spiritual life. That’s what criticism does: It takes the
focus off me and my faults and highlights me as the one who knows. ‘I know; I
see.’ Criticism elevates me as the highest and best. Criticism reduces the pain
of being in the spotlight and gives me the fleshly satisfaction of running the
spotlight. And in a sick sort of way it can feel good to put that kind of
pressure on others. People find it much harder to see my life if I am shining
the glaring light of criticism on others!”
He goes on, “Be
careful you don’t find yourself saying subconsciously, ‘If I can’t make my mark
in this world by what I do, maybe I’ll make it for knowing what others could do
better.’ Criticism is self-exalting, and God will not honor that.”
James quotes
Theodore Roosevelt, who said, “It’s not the critic who counts, not the one who
points out how the strong man stumbles or how the doer of deeds might have done
it better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose
face is marred with sweat and dust and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs
and comes short again and again, who knows great enthusiasms, the great
devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who, if he fails, at least
fails while daring greatly; his place shall never be with those cold and timid
souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
I don’t like
to be criticized. I really don’t. But I would rather be the one who is
criticized than be the one who is criticizing.
I want God’s approval.
James then
says to the one being criticized, “I encourage you to turn down the volume on
the critics in your life. Center your attention on what God thinks of you, and
life will be better. Otherwise, it’s so easy to get sucked into the wilderness
by someone who seems to love it there.”
So do you
strive to exalt yourself or let God do it?
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