Hindsight is always 20/20. Isn’t that what they say? It is not unusual to find ourselves in the midst of stark criticism of someone’s efforts, especially after they have failed. Often we may be the ones whose mouths are not exactly being used as instruments of righteousness. Its easy for us, and for others to look at each others lives and evaluate the successes and flailings we see, and immediately offer our insight as to how we think things should have happened, or how they could have turned out better. Easy to say when you are looking at the results.
One area where we are dealt especially devastating blows is in the arena of ministry. Every time we see someone step out and attempt great things for God, there are the critics. If you make it your business to begin building the kingdom of God, and to become filled with a passion for urgent zealous evangelism, watch out! Because the attacks and the criticism won’t only be coming from the world, but they will also come from places where you least expect it. The enemy will pull out all the stops to shut you down, and if he fails to do that, he will discredit you. Everyone knows how you should be doing your ministry, or how you should have done it. Everyone has an accusing finger that points out your mistakes. Why is it that people are so quick to criticize the good work of others? Why is there this automatic assumption that every good deed is tainted by impure motives?
This is what Theodore Roosevelt had to say about critics who go about to destroy the good work that others would do. I love this. Its so powerful. “It is not the critic who counts. It is not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. Why, the credit belongs to the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs, and comes short again and again, (because there is no effort without error or shortcoming), who does actually try to do the deed, who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in that worthy cause, who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. Far better it is to dare mighty things and to wish glorious triumphs, though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
It is far better to have at the very least attempted to do great things and failed, than to live in mediocrity. You will never achieve great things for the kingdom of Christ until you step out and make the effort, even if you fail and have to get back up at some point along the way. Yeah sure, there will be people who talk about it and whisper to each other how you should have gone about it in some other way. So what? What does their opinion matter? Are they on the front lines? Are they leading and directing and getting their hands dirty? I have had failures in evangelism, but my devotion to the cause of Christ is unwavering. I will not stop serving Him.
One of the greatest blessings that God gives me is when another brother or sister comes up and tells me they have been praying for me, or for something I have been involved in. Or that they have been blessed or encouraged by something the Lord did with me. For every critic out there who is bent on destroying what God is doing in or through you, you will find that God has placed people in your life who are authentic, and who love you like a brother or a sister.
Don’t let the fear of what others will say discourage you from attempting great things for God. After all, isn’t he worth it? Though the whole world turn against you and ridicule you for naming the name of Jesus Christ, yet to have the approval of the King of Kings turns their jeering into less than a whisper. Enduring criticism comes with the territory of daring to be a doer of great things.
Listen to what Paul said in 1Cor4:3,4 “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.”
The only one whose approval we should be seeking is the Lord’s. Now go out into the world and be the salt and light he has called you to be!
See you on the streets!