Sunday: The Mastery of Criticism and Critical Attitudes
WEEK 41
SUNDAY
THE MASTERY OF CRITICISM AND CRITICAL ATTITUDES
Matthew 7:1-5
We come to another mastery in this new society—the mastery of criticism and critical attitudes. The caring that these people had was caring that extended to people they didn’t like.
One looks in vain in the pages of the Acts for the carping, critical spirit. There was the positive pointing out of wrong in people and situations, but they pointed out this wrong in love. It was redemptive, not critical. There is a difference. For criticism is usually motivated by jealousy, by a sense of inferiority, by egotism, that would try to lift itself by putting down the other person, by finding fault with others to cover faults in oneself. But in love, pointing out evil is motivated by concern for the other person. You love enough to help. If you didn’t care, you would keep quiet and let the person go on hurting himself or herself.
When love gets low, criticism gets high. I find in myself, whenever I get out of touch with Christ, I begin to be critical of others. But when I am in living touch with Christ and therefore filled with love, then that love hides a multitude of sins. I feel sorry for people rather than critical of them.
When someone asked Rufus Moseley, a saint of the Southland, what he thought about a certain man, he replied, “I’ll talk to God about him and let you know.” When asked later, he replied, “The Lord said, ‘You talk about me.’” That was a perfect reply, for it was the manifestation of a perfect attitude. He had his eyes on Jesus instead of on people. When Peter said to Jesus (pointing to John), “Lord, what about him?” He replied, “What difference does that make to you? You must follow me” (John 21:21-22). A perfect reply, for we are not following Christians; we are following Christ. We can always let our full weight down on him. As I write this, I am interrupted by someone who is a fine person but who is being kept out of the kingdom of God by the faults of Christians. I could say to him what Jesus said to Peter, “What difference does that make to you? You must follow [Jesus].” It’s the only safe thing.
O Jesus, I thank you that I can always put my full weight down on you. When I look at you, I cannot think of the faults of others; I see my own. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Today I shall glance at the faults of others and gaze at the goodness of Jesus.