Praise and Criticism

If you’ve been in church ministry for a while then you’ve probably been given praise and criticism. Praise is always easy to hear; “good job”, “what a blessing”, “what would we do without you”, “God sure is using you”, “keep up the good work” kind of praise. Praise can make you feel like you’re doing just what you need to be doing and God is blessing it.

Criticism is usually hard to hear; “you could do a better job than you’re doing”, “what you’re doing is ineffective”, “that’s not really your gift” kind of criticism. Criticism can make you feel like you’re NOT doing what you need to be doing and God isn’t blessing it.

Well there’s something that I have learned over the years, and am still learning, and that is: Don’t pay too much attention to praise and don’t focus too much attention on criticism. Now I’m not saying to totally ignore either, but if you give praise too much attention you may give pride a foothold; if you give criticism too much attention, it will shut you down and you may lose your focus on what God has called you to do.

Our attention and focus needs always to be on faithfully serving the Lord Jesus and doing the work that He has put before each of us. If He’s called you to work in a ministry in your church then stay at it. Do your best and leave the results to Him. There will be times that you will be praised and there will be times that you will be criticized. Listen to both and learn what you can learn. Praise can be God’s way of sending some encouragement your way. Constructive criticism can be God’s way of refining you and helping you to make necessary changes. But don’t let either, praise or criticism, control you. This applies to all believers because we are all called to “full time service.”

There’s a great verse that speaks to all of us as fellow laborers in the Lord. 1Corinthians 15:58 says “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  So my dear sisters and brothers, keep up the good work in whatever area He has placed you in to serve Him. Remember that your work is not in vain. Why? Because you’re serving the Lord Jesus and He sees and knows the work that you’re doing.

Colossians3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Sometimes a pat on the back, job well done is so encouraging to hear. Sometimes a bit of constructive criticism can help us do what we’re doing a little better. Learn what you can from each but always keep both in their proper place. Faithfully serve the Lord and one day you will hear “well done” from Him. Until that time don’t pay too much attention to praise and don’t focus on the criticism.

Make the most of your journey.

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