A few days ago I became impressed upon by the importance of never criticizing another person. A friend of mine's wife lost a very important uncle, who helped pay for her school fees and so I travelled to accompany him there to express our sympathy.As I stood besides the casket,the wife came up and began reminiscing about her husband.Among many things she mentioned about him,one particularly caught my attention: "of all the days we lived together,I never heard my husband say any unkind thing about anybody."Instantly I thought "what a wonderful thing to be said about a person" and decided it would be a good policy to follow.
But it isn't easy to keep from saying something against someone who has hurt you or who you really do not appreciate. Before we even realize it,we can put someone down in order to make ourselves look good. Without thinking of the devastating outcome, a person casually criticizes something his or her spouse has said or done or slips into negative attitude towards a church leader or any other community leader.
In my church I have heard of newly converted members leaving church after joining it for a very short time. The first church few days in church they get exposed to a stream of criticisms about their pastors, their other leaders and even those who persuaded them to join the church. After some time they become discouraged as they reflect on the shortcomings of others that they decide to permanently leave the church. Some revert back to old habits and even become worse than they used to be before joining the church for their first time.
Criticism can gnaw away at the very core of our being until we become hollow and destroyed, just as a tiny beetle can topple a mighty tree by boring into its core until it falls to the ground.
Acceptance is a basic human need, and we must learn to accept each other at face value. If we are looking for the bad in someone else, we will surely find it.But if we are searching for the good, we can find that too. "If sympathy,kindness,forbearance and love are abiding principles in your life, you will be a blessing to all around you. You will not criticize others or manifest a harsh, denunciatory spirit towards them.; you will not feel that their ideas must be made to meet your standards. Let us look for the good in people and restrain our lips from criticizing them and thank you for going through.