“Criticism is self-exalting.”

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?