There's Something in Your Eye!

"There are lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up." 1 Corinthians 4:16 (MSG)

Oh! How quick we are to criticise! We still suffer the age old problem of trying to remove the splinter from our brothers eye while there is a log in our own.


Every day, we hear people offer 'advice' which isn't so much as constructive criticism.


Constructive criticism is meant to be the process of offering valid and well reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one. When used properly in ministry work, this kind of criticism is meant to be a valuable 'tool' in raising and maintaining performance standards.


But we don't build up when we criticise. We tear down. We don't encourage, we are pointing the finger in blame and don't offer a helping hand to lift someone back up.


We live in a self help culture that really needs a father figure who doesn't criticise, who builds up instead of tearing down. We need our role models to offer guidance and not criticism. At the end of the day, criticism is a negative form of correction whether it's called constructive or not. Correction, on the other hand, can always include positive reinforcement when delivered non judgementally.


Who will stand up and help others grow up? Where are the father figures who will love unconditionally and offer firm reassurance, who will blaze a path for young men to follow?


Who will open their hearts and homes to the hurting, the down trodden and the broken?


Of course, correction is necessary when mistakes are made, but that correction can still be firm and loving: without criticism.


The world will criticise us enough. There are people in the church who will criticise us. Our biological families, our workmates will criticise us too.


Where are the fathers (those strong and established in their faith) and the real Men of Honour who are willing to take the time and effort to help the young in faith grow up?


You may say this dialogue is a criticism in itself. No.


Why?


I offer this as an encouragement while I assume this very role I have asked about.