The boomerang and the Critic

What goes around, comes around!
That's how the old saying goes and there is a lot of truth in this sentiment. When Jesus gave his famous sermon on the mount, he challenged people to treat others with respect and to be wary of criticising others too quickly. I have always been challenged by this message and I don't know how you feel about it?

It is especially hard when you see someone making the same mistake, again and again. When do you draw the line better speaking the truth (in Love) and seeming critical?

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole travelling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbour." - Matthew 7:1-5 (The Message)

Let's be wary of the 'criticism boomerang' - it may just come back to hit us in the back of the head.

Living in grace
D3LM3

It is not the Critic who counts!

On the 23 April 1910, in Paris, Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech that has echoed down through the ages. I am blown away by these words and they leave me feeling deeply inspired and challenged at the same time. I urge you to read these words and to pass them onto someone else who may need to hear them today. God bless you.

These are some of the famous words from that speech...

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - T. Roosevelt

Romans 2:2 - Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.

Just get into the arena and Trust God for the results. When we live for the honour of Jesus, God will take care of the rest.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

How do you handle criticism?

Being involved in the lives of people means that we open ourselves up to criticism. I am not sure how you handle criticism, but I tend to dwell too much on it at times -although I am getting a little more 'thick skinned'. Here are some words to inspire you in the times when you get unfair criticism:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

May Christ give us the freedom to move on from 'criticism.'

Exploring the depths of His GRACE,
D3LM3