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Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it.
- Psalm 141:5 NIV
I don't know anyone who likes being criticized. I doubt very much that
King David really enjoyed it, either. Yet in the above verse, David
reveals how he had learned the benefits of being rebuked, especially by a
righteous person. He calls being reproved "a kindness" and says that he
"will not refuse it." David knew that even if the rebuke was given with
the wrong intent, he could still benefit from it. That's true humility,
and that's one of the reasons why God called him "a man after my own
heart," and why He was able to use this man mightily. Proverbs 29:23 says,
"Pride ends in a fall, while humility brings honor." People who are
prideful don't take correction very well. Instead of receiving it in a
humble manner, they often become angry and offended, rejecting the reproof,
even if it was given in genuine love and concern. These people usually end
up hurting themselves more than anyone else, and even if they are very
gifted believers, God isn't likely to bless or use them the way He would
like to. Proverbs 15:31-32 says, "He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline despises
himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding." Instead of
always seeing correction as something negative, we should try to think of
it in terms of being "life-giving," and a way of gaining more wisdom. How
we respond to criticism tells a lot about us, especially where our
spiritual maturity is concerned.
Psalm 94:12-13 says, "Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man
you teach from your law; you grant him relief from days of trouble." This
verse reveals a remarkable Biblical principle. One of the primary ways the
Lord corrects us is through His Word. If we spend time with God daily,
fellowshipping with Him in prayer and Bible study, the Lord will not have
to use other people to reprove us as often. But those who neglect spending
time in God's Word will suffer frequent correction and criticism from
others, simply because they haven't given God much choice in the matter.
James 1:29 says: "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that
God desires." When we respond to criticism with anger, even a reproof that
is justified and meant to be constructive will fail to benefit us or our
spiritual growth. Some people get angry at correction simply because it
enables them to avoid facing their problem and having to do anything about
it. The Bible often equates correction with love. Proverbs 27:5 says,
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love." And Proverbs 27:6 says, "Wounds
from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!" So we mustn't assume
that because someone rebukes us, they don't care about us, or they mean us
harm. It may be just the opposite. Proverbs 15:12 says that "A mocker
resents correction; he will not consult the wise." If we're in a situation
where it would be smart for us to ask advice from godly people and we
refuse to do so, we may have a problem with pride. We will end up hurting
ourselves because we've rejected the help God would have offered us through
them. The best way to handle reproof--even if it's not given with good
intentions--is to receive it in a Christlike manner and ask God, "Lord, is
there any truth to this? Are there some changes I need to make here?" If
so, we can count on the Lord to give us the grace we need to become all
that He wants us to be.
Prayer: Lord, whenever I'm criticized or corrected, help me to respond with the
right attitude. Surround me with godly people who will hold me
accountable. Teach me to spend time with You and Your Word daily, so that
You won't have to use others to correct me so often. Thank You for doing a
mighty work in me so that You can bless and use me in awesome ways!
- J. M. Farro
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