By the Rev. Thomas M. Boles PhD., DMin., D.D.
The story is told of two Christian men who once had a “falling out.”
One heard a rumor that the other was speaking against him, so he
went to him and said, “Will you be kind enough to tell my faults to
my face, that I may profit by your Christian candor and try to get rid
of them?”
The other man replied, “Yes, I will.”
They then went aside from the crowd and the first man said, “Before
you commence telling what you think wrong in me, will you kneel
with me and pray, that my eyes may be opened to see my faults as
you cite them? You lead in prayer.”
The second man prayed that God would open the eyes of his friend
and when he was finished, the first man said, “Now, please proceed
with your complaints.”
The second man said, “After praying over it, it looks so little that it
is not worth talking about. The truth is I have been serving the devil
myself, and have need that you pray for me, and forgive me the
wrong I have done you.”
The things are admirable: to speak the truth to another person with
love, and with love to seek the truth from one who will be honest with
you. In speaking the truth, we often hear the very truth we need to hear,
from our own lips. In seeking the truth, we often gain a friend.
The trouble with most of us is that
we would rather be ruined by praise
than saved by criticism.
If you profit from constructive criticism you will
be elected to the wise men’s hall of fame. But to
reject criticism is to harm yourself and your own
best interests.
Proverbs 15:31,32
