This was week 2 of “Zip It”…a series of sermons designed to help us consider not only the words we speak, but also the underlying causes that produce our words. Our theme was “Criticism Gone Bad”.
There is a time and a place for constructive criticism. But often, our criticism movs from loving help… through petty nit-picking… directly for the jugular of destruction. Look at what God says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26).
It’s really important that we get that. People who constantly criticize others are often deceived and do not realize the damage they are doing. But what causes criticism gone bad? Here are a few ideas.
Jealousy. “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:30). Imagine the inside of your body if it was rotting away. that’s what jealousy does to us…it rots away at our insides…at our spirit…soul… turning us into bitter, negative, critical people. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can turn it around. How? "Rejoice with those who rejoice." (Romans 12:15)
Negativity. “Out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” The stuff that’s inside of you…the stuff you think about…the stuff you are focused on…that’s what you’re going to talk about. And so much of what we put into ourselves is negative. But here’s how to turn it around and speak words of life. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
Sarcasm. The cut down is the most deceiving of all types of criticism gone bad. We think we’re being funny…that people know we’re joking…that we’re not hurting anybody…but we’re wrong. That’s why God’s Word says, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place." (Ephesians 5:4) Those little digs… those little cut downs… those little comments… they chip away at people… tearing them down. How do we turn it around? Try this, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others." (Ephesians 4:29).
What are your costing you…long term? Today is your day to get hold of that and be changed. God can change that in you. You can have something more incredible, more awesome than you have ever had in your whole life.
All you have to do is decide to let God do the work. God wants to take away the jealousy…the negativity…He want to take all that stuff out of you…and he wants to do it today. He wants to put in you His Spirit…His life so that the words that you speak are words that are fresh…vibrant… words that build people up.
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