Priceless!

Read Proverbs 25

To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Proverbs 25:12

Dinner at the best Italian restaurant in town: $100. Tickets to an award-winning play: $160. Fifteen minutes of constructive criticism expressed in love: Priceless.

If we were to copy a popular ad campaign of a major credit card, that’s how we might paraphrase Solomon’s wise counsel regarding confrontation.

Human nature tends to recoil from any and all criticism (even when it is valid). Rationalizing, justifying, and blaming are our natural reactions. And yet as believers in Christ, we have a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17).The indwelling Spirit of God gives us the ability to respond in supernatural ways (Galatians 5:22-23). Consequently, we can, if we will, come to see criticism as an instrument of good in our life.

No one enjoys having his or her flaws pointed out. But the next time you are confronted, resist the urge to defend yourself and lash back. Listen. Think. Pray. Through hard, tough words, God may be offering you a priceless gift.

A WORD FOR TODAY

Accept criticism; the good kind will help you.

Today, Lord, I want to be humble enough to hear the truth about myself and wise enough to fix—with your help—whatever is not right in my life.