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A Critical Attitude Can Cost You – Part 3

Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this. Numbers 12:1-2

While a critical attitude doesn't destroy your relationship with God, it certainly hurts your capacity to enjoy His love and presence. Miriam and Aaron started out criticizing their brother Moses, and ended up feeling the consequences most in their relationship with God. Why? Because God pays attention to the way we treat each other! 'But why does God make such a big deal of this?' you ask. Because when you choose to sin you choose to suffer! Everything God classifies as sin is injurious to you - everything. When God says, 'Don't' what He really means is, 'Don't hurt yourself.' When He says, 'Don't criticize,' He's not trying to deprive you of satisfaction. No, He's saying, 'Having a critical attitude goes against the nature of who I've made you to be. Fish were made to swim, birds were made to fly, and you were made to live in fellowship with Me. A critical spirit hinders that fellowship.'

Even people who don't claim to be particularly religious are observing the negative effects of criticism upon each of us. Doctor David Fink, author of Release From Nervous Tension, studied thousands of mentally and emotionally disturbed people. He observed two groups: the stressed-out group and the stress-free group. Gradually one fact began to emerge: the stressed-out group were habitual fault-finders, constant critics of people and things around them, while the stress-free group were loving and accepting of others. No doubt about it, the habit of criticizing is a self-destructive way to live.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, heal me and keep me from being self-destructive in my way of seeing others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen