Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. — Psalm 141:5
Criticism is not what people like to hear even when the word constructive comes before it. It has been said that most people would prefer to be damaged by praise than saved by criticism. Constructive criticism is beneficial to a person the same way that bad-tasting medicine can bring healing. However, most people prefer hearing praise even though, like diet soda or candy bars, too much can be harmful to them.
If you point out the flaw in one person, they will point out an even bigger flaw in you. Instead of accepting the criticism and growing from it, people would rather turn the tables and point out another person’s shortcomings. This was true then, and it is true now.
How criticism is received ultimately depends on the receiver. If a person isn’t serious about life, they will hate being criticized no matter how it is given. However a person who is wise and knows that he can only benefit from learning how he can be better will accept criticism with gratitude.
We can learn to appreciate constructive criticism and welcome it when we recognize that it is truly a gift. When we can welcome the harshest criticism, we will ultimately be deserving of the greatest praise!
