Giving and Receiving Criticism, Part 1

No one will escape critical words. It is part of life so we might as well accept the fact and learn from Scripture how to handle it best when it comes.

We should consider several things before looking into the subject. We must first ask ourselves if we are by nature critical and secondly we must consider how well we respond to criticism. Pride and insecurity make us bristle at the thought of being corrected. No one enjoys being told that they are lazy or are not doing a good job. This goes right to the heart of our very being. So let's take a look at how to give and receive criticism. This should help us within our families, our jobs, and our church.

How To Give Criticism

1. Earn the right to correct.
This means that you should have poured words of encouragement into the person over a period of time. They will be far more receptive to correction when it is needed (Proverbs 8:33).

2. Be gentle but not evasive.
The Scriptures tell us that the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle (II Timothy 2:24). If we combine this with Ephesians 4:15, which tells us to speak the truth in love, then we should have an excellent balance in our approach.

3. Always show the recipient of your correction that you care (Proverbs 27:5-6).
People are far more receptive if they know you have come to them with a pure heart and a desire to help.

4. Always follow up.
Thank them for any improvement that you see as a result of the correction. This builds confidence and will help you bond with them.

Remember, we all have blind spots that only others can see. Only a fool despises correction (Proverbs 9:8-9). That's the way I see things.

In my next entry we will look at how to receive criticism.