Pastor's Corner

I think that for most of us, it's very difficult to accept criticism.  And even more difficult than accepting criticism is heeding it, i.e. making corrections in our lives as a result of it.  The reason that's true, I think, is because criticism pricks our pride.  The criticism we receive may be entirely true, but it's offensive, and that's because it points out our lack of perfection.  And let's face it, we all want to be seen as perfect (well, at least more "perfect" than those around us).

We need to swallow our pride and to accept and respond to the criticism offered to us (even the "redeemable" parts of the nasty criticism that's hurled at us).  We'll grow in our faith if we do, not to mention in our humility (and that's good because "God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble"--James 4:6).

"Whoever heeds instruction is on the path of life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray." (Prov. 10:17)

What did Job learn through his experience, i.e. his incredible loss, his pain & suffering, his debate with his friends, and, most importantly, his encounter with God? We find the bottom line of Job’s story in Job 42:2-3…

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

From these verses, it seems to me that Job learned two very important and fundamental truths:

1. God is God
2. Job is not

And, although it may seem like a no-brainer, those are important and fundamental truths that all of us need to learn as well. The reason I say that is because we often live out our lives under the assumption that: 1). God is missing something about our situations, and 2). He needs us to tell Him what that something is.

The truth of the matter is that God is entirely omniscient (all-knowing) and completely sovereign! He is intimately aware of our situations, even more so than we are, and He is in total control over them. And He really doesn’t need us to tell Him how and when those situations should be resolved. He is God; we are not!

Many Christians find comfort through their trials and tribulations in James' words recorded in James 1:2-4...

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Their thinking goes like this: The Lord uses our trials to discipline us and to shape us; therefore, whenever we experience trials we grow in righteousness.  Ideally, that's true, but it's not an automatic.  The author of Hebrews tells us (Heb. 12:11)...

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Did you catch that last phrase?  "...to those who have been trained by it."

Our trouble (including our discipline) can produce righteousness within us, but only if we allow ourselves to be "trained by it," i.e., if we accept it and look to God for His will in and through it.  If we reject the trouble in our life, as though we were undeserving of it, we will not become righteous as a result, but rather we will become resentful.