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From touchandchange.com Devotions If you are going to serious about God, then there is always someone out there who is ready to criticize what you are getting ready to do. Learning how to deal with that is important...but you have to learn the difference between criticism and advice. They are not the same thing...and the difference makes all the difference. This is a follow up to the Celebration Worship experience called The Mission Critical Moment. The Moment series has been teaching you about embracing and living the miracle of the moment. But be warned, when you do accept the moment as a mission from God, then there is always someone waiting to criticize you for it. These people are always mission critical...no matter what the mission or moment might be. In the study we think about ignoring criticism -- an essential for success. And then of course we see how to keep moving forward and live the moment in a way that honors God. I was praying about this and was reminded that there is a difference between ignoring criticism and getting advice. We all need to be willing to accept advice from the right people. So trying to get my brain and heart wrapped around that idea I decided that I should probably include some ideas on this as a part of the The NEXT Moment. There really is a big difference between ignoring criticism and getting advice. The ability to accept and act on good advice is also fundamental to success in any venture. That's why Solomon said, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22) The question is: Who do you go to for advice? What's the difference between an Eliab (David's critical brother who we met in Celebration Worship) and a King Solomon? Here are some suggestions about who to turn to. Seek advice from those who know. Leonardo da Vinci said, "Ask counsel of him who governs himself well." I have friends whose financial advice I will gladly receive, but whose parenting advice I avoid. It depends on what they know, on what they have demonstrated in their personal lives. Do you want to learn how to endure adversity? Don't ask someone who has had an easy life. Ask the one who has weathered the storms. Seek advice from those who care. Have you ever played the game RISK? I used to play Risk with my next door neighbor Dan Welch on the computer. You might remember him, he is a former church member, he, Sharon, and Sarah now live up north out of state. In one of our early games, as I will still trying to really learn how to play, he suggested I take a certain country occupied by the computer. I attacked, but succeeded only in weakening my position and the computer's position. On his next turn, Dan wiped us both out. When I complained about Dan's bad counsel, he smiled, then laughed, and said, "In the game of Risk, all advice I give is entirely diplomatic." I learned, never take advice from Dan Welch when playing a game against him, even if you are his pastor! John Ray said, "It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his counselor." This is why advice from a salesman always involves purchasing his product. Make sure you listen to those who have your best interests in heart, not theirs. That makes them more trustworthy (something else some have been looking at in Sonrise Bible Study) Be willing to hear what you don't want to hear. And be willing to do what you don't want to do. The temptation is to seek advice from those who will say what you want them to say. Good advice will challenge you to rethink your approach and fine tune your strategy. Solomon said, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15) Getting advice is not about allowing others to make decisions for you. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. You're the one who must live the consequences -- all the more reason to make sure going in that you've heard from the best and are committed to following their example. I would also add...and I think it is a given...advice best comes from Godly people who really do love you. That my friends...is good advice on taking advice! Now, if you are interested, here is a rough version of the outline from the Bible Study that wrapped up the series on The Moment...
The Mission Critical Moment The Moment (part four) 1 Samuel 17:25-31
When you get serious about living the moments that God gives you You become a person on a mission When you are a person on a mission from God, then there will be no shortage of people who are critical of that mission
We've all heard what Elbert Hubbard said: "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." For those of us called to do kingdom work, this just isn't an option. We'll all be criticized. We just need to learn how to deal with it.
Samuel Goldwyn, founder of MGM Studios, gave his people the following advice: "Don't pay any attention to the critics. Don't even ignore them!" As impossible as it sounds, I think I know what he meant.
A good example of enduring criticism can be seen in David. You remember when the Philistine Goliath stood before the Israelite army, defying them day after day to defeat him in battle. No one believed he could be conquered; the Bible says that King Saul and the Israelites were "dismayed and shaken."
But David, a ruddy-looking teenager got the idea that he, by God's power, could slay this giant.
When he began talking about it, his brother Eliab spoke with burning anger: "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." (1 Samuel 17:28)
THE NATURE OF CRITICS... They are negative when people are doing the things of God (usually because they don’t understand it) and that is an attitude that is not Godly by the way
David's brother epitomizes the nature of critics. Here's how:
Critics Obsess Over the Trivial He was obsessed with the trivial. (v.28) And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? David was about to win a mighty battle for the glory of God, but Eliab was more concerned with the sheep. Critics usually focus on the little picture, not the big picture.
Critics Selfishly Attack and Make it Personal (v.28) Eliab spoke with burning anger I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is He made it personal. Eliab called David "conceited and wicked." This reveals the difference between criticism and advice.
An advisor helps you evaluate your options and rethink your strategy. A critic just attacks your motives and condemns your character. As the poet Ezra Pound said "You can spot a bad critic when he starts by the discussing the poet and not the poem."
Principle: Hurt people hurt people
Critics Miss the Big Picture of What God is Doing He underestimated David's intentions. (v.28) He said, "You came down here to watch the battle." No, David came to win the battle. He came to save the day. He was willing to do what Eliab and the rest of the army weren't: he was ready to risk his life for the opportunity to do something great for the glory of God. Eliab didn't get that.
The Attitude of Gratitude must become a part of who you are Grateful to God for allowing you the chance, the opportunity, the moment!
DAVID'S RESPONSE...
So what was David's response? He simply said, "Now what have I done? Can't I even speak?"
And here's the part to notice...
"He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before." (1 Samuel 17:29- 30)
Move Toward the Moment (And away from those who would be so critical) (v.30) He then turned away to someone else David didn't get into a debate with his big brother about the purity of his motives or the extent of his vision. He didn't even bother to explain what type of arrangements he made for the sheep. He just turned away from his critical brother and talked to someone else.
Keep Fixed on the Moment (Keep your focus on what God has called you to do) (v.30) else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
The best response to criticism is to ignore it, to turn away from it, and to keep thinking about how you can do what God has called you to do.
We need good, Godly advice and counsel. But let's not mistake criticism for counsel. We need to know the difference. When critics lash out, don't give them more attention than they deserve. Just keep doing what God has called you to do.
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