Every one must endure criticism. Actually, the higher you go in ministry and/or responsibilities at work the more you will be criticized. It is impossible to become an effective leader without receiving criticism. Moses was a humble and godly man, yet the Bible records the many times he was criticized. Imagine if Moses would have told the people of Israel, “Enough! I quit! I’m going back to Midian to tend sheep with my father-in-law!” Thankfully, he chose not to do that. Moses endured until the end of his life and ministry, even though family and leaders alike criticized him:
KORAH’S CRITICISM
“They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?’” — Numbers 16: 3
AARON & MIRIAM’S CRITICISM
“Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, ‘Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’ And the LORD heard it.’” — Numbers 12:1-2
Each time God intervened because of the attitudes and criticism of the people, including Moses’ family. Sad to say, but times have not changed. Leaders continue to receive criticism to this very day. And the quicker leaders understand this, the quicker he or she will learn not to allow shallow complaints and criticisms to affect their hearts and decisions.
NOTE: Criticism can wear you out if you are not careful. Moses allowed the continual complaints to wear him down emotionally to the point where he allowed it to cause him to disobey God. Consequently he lost the privilege of taking the people of God into the land of their inheritance (Numbers 20:7-12).
Several things to consider when you are criticized:
You can fight those who criticize you, or you can let the Lord fight your battle. We see in the scriptures how God intervened on behalf of His people time and time again (2 Chronicles 20:17; Jeremiah 1:19; Jeremiah 15:20), and He does a much better job than us!
Remember that there might be a strand of truth in most criticism, so seek to find any nugget of truth that might help you identify an issue for you to correct. At the end of the day, you are responsible to grow and be the best you can be. Constructive criticism is one of the ways for you to see what you need to change about yourself so that you can be a better person, father/mother, businessman/woman, minister, etc.
Criticism is part and parcel of being a leader, so if you are being criticized, take it as a compliment because all great leaders get criticized. It goes with the territory.
People are watching the way you go through difficulty, so remember that you are leaving an example for others to follow. What example are you giving to your family and friends?
Don’t allow criticism to paralyze you. If you hear it, move on anyway. Protect your heart by not meditating on the criticism. Receive the good parts of it, and chuck the rest.
Go to God for strength. Remember, The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father for strength before going to the cross. Jesus said that He is with us always.
As you successfully endure criticism, you grow internally stronger to resist and handle any future criticisms.
Are you believing for great things in the future? King David once said that God presents a table in the presence of his enemies. In other words, as people criticize you unfairly, God will see to it that their words will fall to the ground. He will vindicate you, and those that criticize you will see you prosper anyway, right in their midst.
Always remember: Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Applying wisdom to everyday life for extraordinary results,
Victor Nazario
