It has been said that football is a sport that has 22 people in desperate need of rest, being evaluated by thousands of people who are in desperate need of exercise. Have you ever noticed that everyone has an opinion on how I should do my job, even when they have no idea what my job is supposed to be? How do we accept criticism without becoming discouraged by their evaluation. We need to remember that God is the judge of internal and external fidelity to the servant-steward task, it should be a very small thing to any of us when others praise or criticize our ministry or our spiritual life. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 4:3a “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment.” We can benefit greatly from the counsel of a wise friend, and sometimes even learn from the observations and criticisms of unbelievers, but no human being is qualified to determine the legitimacy, quality, or faithfulness of our word for the Lord. A caring servant of Christ cannot and should not be insensitive to the feeling, need, and opinions of people. But no servant can remain faithful to his calling if he lets his congregation, or any individual human being, decide how true his motives are or whether they are working within the Lord’s will. Because human knowledge and understanding of the facts are imperfect, human criticisms and compliments are imperfect. In humility and love, God’s servant must allow themselves to care about other people’s evaluations of their ministry.
