Something about you...

Sometimes someone doesn't like something about you.
Sometimes it can hurt your feelings for them to say it.
Sometimes you need to stop and look it before you get upset.
Because sometimes you don't like that about yourself either.

The Critic

No where in the Bible is the "gift" of criticism shown. All spiritual gifts are commanded to be presented and used in love. All throughout the Bible, God tells how to act in love, love each other as we love ourselves, and that love is the greatest commandment. There are gifts where correction takes place - preaching, teaching, discernment, etc., but scripture holds true to the fact that all of these gifts must be expressed in love or they are not being used of God.

The truth is that God usually matches our gifts (spiritual strengths to be used for God in the body) and our talents (strengths Christians & non-Christians have that help them succeed in certain areas of life). We can easily be using our simply our talents and believe that they are spiritual gifts.

There are numerous examples. A preacher can deliver a powerful message with all the right words and emotions, but it be a result of his speaking talent rather than a spiritual gift of preaching where God provides him with the message.

I've been specifically thinking about critical people lately. We all have our critics. There is always someone that is ready to correct you, tell you what they would do or what you should do, and remind you of your mistakes and failures. many times, they try to disguise critism with a mask of wisdom, discernment, or healthy correction.

Don't let the critic get you down. There is no spiritual gift of criticism. They DO NOT always know what they would do in your shoes. They DO NOT always know what is best for you. And Godly advise does not come in the form of critism.

Lastly, don't be critical of yourself or your life's situation. For the most part, we have to accept responsibility for where we are, how we are, and where we are heading. But, review your situation with a wise, discerning, and healthy evaluating eye, and not the eye of a critic. Answer yourself and others with a response that is of the word, prayed over, and expressed in love. Be gracious to yourself and others...and respond to negatives you see with yourself and others as a gracious person and someone who doesn't deserve anything we have anyway--because we don't.

"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let you speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." - Corinthians 4:2-6