Navigate by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Author:Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780824932947
Publisher: Guideposts
Published: 2013-02-09T05:00:00+00:00

ON CRITICISM

You will be criticized if there is any righteousness whatsoever to your personality. There is just one way to avoid criticism: Never do anything to amount to anything. Get your head above the crowd, and the jealous will notice and criticize you. Therefore welcome criticism as a sign that your life has vitality, as a confirmation that you're accomplishing things.

“Actually a critic is an asset (though at times an unpleasant one) for he keeps you alert and causes you to study yourself. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14).

This wise, though admittedly difficult, advice will really work in dealing with criticism. When anybody criticizes you, instead of criticizing him in return or fighting back with him or saying unkind things about him behind his back, simply bless him. Ask God to help him. Pray for his well-being and that his life may be filled with blessings. If you follow this procedure, your critic—instead of receiving opposition from you, which is destructive—will receive goodwill, which is creative and life-giving. You may not win him over by blessing him, but you will remove the sting from yourself and possibly help him overcome hatefulness. “Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in sight of all” (Romans 12:17).

There is always a tendency when criticized to repay in the same coin. Something evil has been done to you. The old “Adam” in us all wants to give evil in return. But that only makes the whole situation more evil. And it is a simple fact that no good ever comes out of evil. So this verse tells us to do what is noble. When you act small, it is bound to react unfavorably to you. But when you do the noble thing, the big, generous and righteous thing, criticism of you will fail in its intended purpose because everyone will see that the criticism is unwarranted.

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

It is not our business to get revenge. That is the prerogative of God. It is He who repays people for wrong they have done, not you. He does not allow us to exercise vengeance and thus set ourselves up as judges and punishers. He alone is the judge of men's actions. He punishes where necessary. So leave it to Him for He can do it better than we. And besides, He does it constructively.

Never answer a critic, keep your spirit right. Learn all you can from your critic; honestly analyze and correct yourself where necessary. Thank him for his input but do not let him cut you down in action or in spirit. It is easier to criticize others than to look within oneself. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). Remember this verse when criticized.

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