http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:10-13&version=NIV
Most people are born critics. By this I mean that most people are prone to finding the flaws in things. The errors. The defects. It comes naturally to them. Such as finding the misspelling in an article. Or a blooper in a movie. Or some kind of food that is slightly over-cooked. Or under-cooked. The point is that most people are very good at finding mistakes. And faults. Especially the faults of others. A neighbor who doesn’t keep track of their dog. A co-worker who talks too much. A spouse who spends too much time watching TV. Or on the computer. It’s as if they are completely blind to the positive in others. All they can see is the negative. And they let others know.
Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States from 1901– 1909. He was a man (and a President) who didn’t talk about doing things, he actually did them. And he had little use for people who were critical of others. You know, the kind who don’t do anything but who are very critical of the ones who are doing the doing. (Did that just make sense?) His quote is as follows:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have
done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends
himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who know neither defeat or victory."
I love this quote. Roosevelt has a way with words, doesn't he? Don’t we all despise people who do nothing to help us but who are critical of our efforts? Yes we do. The fact is that if someone hasn’t helped us then we feel that they don’t have the right to be critical.
The reality is that life is full of critics. They are everywhere. And whenever we attempt to accomplish something, especially something for God, we can be sure that they will surface. “It was too long. Or boring. You should have said this. Or you should have done that.” This can be very discouraging.
At times such as this we need to remember that we don’t need to be perfect. All we need to do is to put for the effort. To have at least tried. Far better to have served God imperfectly than not to have served Him at all. The fact is that God often takes our imperfect efforts and blesses them. He works through them and causes great things to happen in the lives of others. If that’s the case then we need to turn a deaf ear to the critic. And listen for the 'Well done' of the Master!
Lord, I realize that my efforts to serve You aren’t always perfect. In fact, they are seldom perfect. But I serve You anyway. Because You want me to. Because others need me to. Because I love You. Help me not to get discouraged when others criticize what I do. I offer my service as a sacrifice to You. May it be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States from 1901– 1909. He was a man (and a President) who didn’t talk about doing things, he actually did them. And he had little use for people who were critical of others. You know, the kind who don’t do anything but who are very critical of the ones who are doing the doing. (Did that just make sense?) His quote is as follows:
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have
done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in
the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again;
who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends
himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who know neither defeat or victory."
I love this quote. Roosevelt has a way with words, doesn't he? Don’t we all despise people who do nothing to help us but who are critical of our efforts? Yes we do. The fact is that if someone hasn’t helped us then we feel that they don’t have the right to be critical.
The reality is that life is full of critics. They are everywhere. And whenever we attempt to accomplish something, especially something for God, we can be sure that they will surface. “It was too long. Or boring. You should have said this. Or you should have done that.” This can be very discouraging.
At times such as this we need to remember that we don’t need to be perfect. All we need to do is to put for the effort. To have at least tried. Far better to have served God imperfectly than not to have served Him at all. The fact is that God often takes our imperfect efforts and blesses them. He works through them and causes great things to happen in the lives of others. If that’s the case then we need to turn a deaf ear to the critic. And listen for the 'Well done' of the Master!
Lord, I realize that my efforts to serve You aren’t always perfect. In fact, they are seldom perfect. But I serve You anyway. Because You want me to. Because others need me to. Because I love You. Help me not to get discouraged when others criticize what I do. I offer my service as a sacrifice to You. May it be pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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