Handling Correction
Plato
stated, "When men speak ill of you, live so as nobody may believe them."
Plato also said, "They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth."
Some people, when told a not-so-nice truth about themselves, violently push it from themselves while screaming out, "Lies, lies, all lies!"
As Christians, we should welcome anything that helps us become more Christ-like. If someone tells us that something we are doing isn't right, then we need to honestly and prayerfully look at what they've said or done. We need to ask ourselves, "Is there even a glimmer of truth in what they've said?" And we need to ask God to open up our eyes and hearts to see the truth -- after all the Bible tells us that our hearts are deceitfully wicked.
God knows that we see beauty in what is really a vile, oozing, foul-smelling sore. We'll tell ourselves, "No, I wasn't gossiping. I was just getting information so I could pray." And we purposely forget that we told our husband, son, sister, brother.
Make a commitment now that the next time someone corrects you (even if it is your husband, wife, sister or brother), that you will change your reaction. Instead of becoming defensive, commit yourself to lovingly embracing that correction. Commit yourself to becoming more like Jesus.
When you do, you are taking a step towards living your life so that "when men speak ill of you, nobody may believe them."
Something to Think About
If we can't take correction from our brothers and sisters, what makes us think
we will take it from God? Practise humility so that you won't need God's correction.
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