Responding To Criticism

Every Christ follower should commit Nehemiah 4 to memory -- or at the very least, meditate on it frequently. It's that good!

Nehemiah 4 is about an unfortunate but inevitable companion to life: criticism and opposition. We all face it. When you try to do anything at all -- especially something good -- there will be those who think it's their job to criticize you, and sometimes there will even be those who think it's their job to stop you in your tracks.

Criticism is a fact of life, because, as Benjamin Disraeli once said, "It is easier to be critical than to be correct." It is also easier for some to criticize others than it is to actually get involved doing good things themselves. For this reason, criticism is unavoidable.

Critics are like the gnats you have to deal with you're outdoors. The sun is warm, the scenery is beautiful, the fresh air is invigorating -- but those gnats can be really annoying. But sometimes they're just part of the outdoor experience. You've got to put up with them.

And if you're in leadership, you have to put up with criticism and opposition. The key is not to fight back. The key is to keep moving forward, doing what God has called you to do. Keep focused on him, keep focused on the work, keep your guard up, keep in contact with the right people, and keep reminding yourself of why you do what you do -- this is how you respond to criticism!