Food and feeding are well-known rituals for getting together, as I discovered while working at an international organization. Slowly but surely, I packed on the pounds. Until I could not fit into my better clothes and had to be satisfied with loose-fitting ones. And then one day, an adviser from the UK (he shall remain nameless) made a caustic remark about my looks. That morning, I stopped taking sugar in my tea and coffee, cold turkey. What he said on that fateful day turned out to be a sweet criticism for me.
I am now at least 10 pounds lighter than in those days and my tailored clothes fit nicely. How did that happen? You know the saying that problems make some people bitter while they make others better? I am in the second group. I allowed his criticism to make me better. It was not easy but I chose to embrace its negativity. And now, in hindsight, I can refer to it as sweet criticism because it has made me better and healthier.
Had he not made that negative remark, only God knows how heavy I would have become by now. I might even be obese or dead from the complications of obesity. How about you? That person who criticized you yesterday may be doing you a favor with that sweet criticism. But you need the perspective of God to discern that criticism could be a positive problem. Otherwise, you are likely to become angry and grow bitter.
Consider Jesus’ Sweet Criticism
Jesus told Peter to get behind him and labeled him satan. Remember that this was the same disciple that the master had just finished praising. You may remember the story. Many who benefitted from Jesus’ miracles thought He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or some such prophet. “Okay then,” said Jesus, “How about you guys who have been following me closely?
Peter did not hesitate, sure of whom he had believed. Why, their master was none other than the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus was so impressed that He pronounced a blessing on Peter. And then, He declared that only God the Father could have revealed such a wonderful insight to Peter. It seemed that Peter was able to hear directly from God. Wow!
Now, put yourself in Peter’s place for a moment. By now, you would be showing off to the other disciples. “Look at me now; I hear directly from God and I am blessed.” In the middle of your silent boasting, you speak up and instead of the expected praise, you are slapped down. You are hurt and growing bitter.
There Is Always A Purpose
Peter, not knowing what was in his future, might have felt bitter too, the bible does not say. Soon after that, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him. What! Peter who was ready to die with Jesus? It is possible that even the other disciples felt Jesus was tripping. And if that was sweet criticism, Peter might have thought it crossed the line and went too far.
You know the rest of the story. Peter did do what Jesus predicted. It turned out that all these instances of warning were to help Peter not to fall into the pit of sin. Incidentally, all the sweet criticisms in the Bible, especially in the prophetic writings, are there as warning to us. Knowing this should help to remove the bitterness you are feeling toward God. You have always thought that He was too harsh. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We could go on, but your life will be sweeter if you learn to embrace negative remarks as sweet criticisms.
Maranatha!
