Help, Somebody Is Criticizing Me.
3/28/04 1 Samuel 17:17-37 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Is there anybody here who has ever been criticized before? Criticism has the power to make us remember things we would just as soon forget. In my twelve years of high school, four years of college, one year of bible school, three years of seminary, three years of law school and two years of a Dr. of ministry program, I must have written hundreds of papers. Yet the paper I remember best is the one I did my freshman year at Hamilton College in my first religion course.
The paper was on the parable of the vineyard, in which Jesus went out and hired workers at different times of the day to work in his fields. At the end of the night, Jesus paid them all the same. I still dream about the research I did on that paper. That paper was the final paper for the course. It was worth 1/3 of my grade.
I can still remember picking it up, and looking at my grade. I got a red D- with a circle around it on the paper. The professor wrote, “this paper is awful. If it were not for your intelligence, I would have given you an F” It did not take me long to realize my paper had been severely criticized and I felt as though I had been criticized in the process.
Now why is it that I remember those comments on that particular paper more than all the other comments that have been written since then or before then. There is something about criticism that can pour deep into our souls, and we can let it get next to us to the point of paralyzing our future.
Now here I am telling people all over campus, “God has called me into the ministry”, and I almost flunk the first course I have dealing with the Bible in college. Just because you receive some criticism or a negative evaluation does not mean God has changed his mind about using you.
In our Old Testament reading, we met a guy by the name of Eliab. Some of you have already forgotten his name. But Eliab, was the first born son of a man named Jesse, who had eight boys. Eliab was tall and good looking. The pride of the family. God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house, to choose the next king of Israel.
The moment Samuel laid eyes on Eliab, he said to himself, “I see right now why God sent me here. It doesn’t take but one look to know this is the man God would choose. Why this is the man that anyone in his right mind would choose.” Samuel was ready to take out the oil and anoint Eliab, without even a discussion with God.
But God said, “don’t look at his height, or how handsome he is, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Samuel had all seven of Jesse’s sons pass by, and not a single one was chosen by the Lord.
Samuel asked Jesse, “are you sure these are all your sons? Jesse, says, “I have one more, the youngest, but I know you don’t want him. He could not possibly be the one you’ve chosen. His name is David, and he’s with the sheep.” Samuel said, “we will not eat until someone brings him in.” The moment David walked in, the Lord said, “rise and anoint him, he is the one.”
Now how do you think David’s older brothers felt about this. Were they glad that Samuel had anointed someone in their family? Were they jealous Samuel had not anointed them? It’s obvious that David was at the bottom of the ladder in their eyes. Nobody thought much of him. His father had not shown him any favoritism. All he was good for was taking care of the sheep in the desert.
Well some time passed and three of David’s brothers were drafted into the army. The Israelites were about to fight the Philistine armies. But the Philistines said “Look, instead of us killing each other off, why don’t you chose a man to fight our champion warrior. If your boy wins, then we will serve you. If our boy wins, then you will serve us.” It seemed like a good deal at the time. The only problem was that the Philistine boy, Goliath could make Shaquille O’Neal look short in that he stood over nine feet tall.
Nobody wanted to fight Goliath. The King had promised a huge financial reward, his daughter in marriage, and his father’s house would be free from taxes forever for anyone who would fight Goliath. Jesse wanted to send some food to his oldest three sons and to their commander. He also wanted to know how the war was going and to make sure his sons were okay. For some reason, he chose David to go to the battlefield. Maybe he thought if David was killed, it would not be that much of a loss compared to this other four sons still at home.
In obedience to his father, David went to find his brothers who had headed off to war. David arrived at the battlefield, just in time for Goliath to make his daily challenge of calling them a bunch chickens, cowards and a few other choice names. He ridiculed the God of Israel. Nobody was willing to do anything to challenge Goliath. From the King on down, everybody was afraid. David asked, “what will happen to the man, who defeats Goliath.” The men began to lay it out, what all the king would do.
At that moment, David’s oldest brother, Eliab arrived on the spot. Just looking at David made him get angry. You know some criticism is on the way. Look at 1 Samuel 17:28-31 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
This criticism is flowing out of jealousy. Eliab attacked David’s motive for coming to the battle scene. But in reality David had come to be a blessing to Eliab, by providing him with food from home.
Just because we’re doing the right thing, and sometimes putting ourselves in danger, does not mean we will not be criticized for it. Doing the right things does not mean you escape from criticism.
Think about it for a moment how often Jesus did the right thing and the kind of response he received. There was a man who had a son that was possessed by a demonic spirit. The spirit would cause the boy to try to drown himself in water, or burn himself in the fire. Jesus cast the demonic spirit out of him. Instead of everyone, saying way to go Jesus. The religious leaders who were jealous of his power, said, “He cast demons, because he is in partnership with the devil himself. Jesus said, “whatever people do to me, they will do to you if you do what God tells you to do.”
Eliab tried to humiliate David with his criticism. When he asked, “who have you left in charge of those few sheep in the desert”, Eliab was saying a lot more. “No you’re content with the job you have. You’re trying to aspire for something you never can have. It’s irresponsible of you to have left the sheep.
You know Dad only has a few of them, and if one of them is lost or killed, the family is going to suffer. But no, all you care about is yourself. You just wanted to see the battle, and what it’s like for real men to risk their lives. I know your heart and it’s wicked.”
Do you see why some people are going to criticize you. No where in this passage does it say a thing about Eliab is considering taking on Goliath. After all, he was certainly one of the taller guys among the Israelites. But he thinks he can make himself look bigger, by putting David in his place and making him look smaller. This is not the first time Eliab has been critical of David. David has heard his criticism time and time again. Look at David’s response.
29"Now what have I done?" said David. In other words, “Man here you go again on my case. Nothing I do seems to be right. "Can’t I even speak?" All I did was ask a question. Why you trying to front on me in front of everybody? Now David could have started feeling sorry for himself. Everybody’s looking at me and laughing at me. I never should have come down here with this old food.
Sometimes we do that when we are criticized. We start saying, well I guess I should have tried it in the first place. This negative evaluation must mean I’m just not cut out for this kind of work. You remember that D- I got on my first religion paper. If I had of taken that as some kind of sign that God wanted me to do something beside ministry, I sure would have missed out on something great. Criticism does not feel good, but it’s not a reason to quit.
David could have lashed out in anger at his brother. “If you so big and bad, why haven’t you offered to fight Goliath. You always running your mouth, and doing nothing.” If David had taken that course of action, we would be reading the story of “David and Eliab” rather than David and Goliath.
But God had not sent David to the battlefield to fight his critic. He sent David there to prepare to fight Goliath. Do not let your anger at your critic, cause you to miss the real purpose God has placed you in the setting you are in. Stay focused. As the Angelic Voices sang, “The battle is not yours, God said it’s mine.”
Eliab’s criticism probably hurt more because it was coming from someone David had looked up to in the home. Eliab knew of the anointing on David’s life, but instead of trying to build David up to help him receive the promise of God, he wanted David to forget the promise and remain beneath him.
David did not challenge Eliab. He didn’t try to return the criticism. He respected Eliab as his older brother. He already had in mind what he needed to do. 30He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. David made up his mind, “he would fight Goliath himself.” 31What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
Saul was king at the time and he was so delighted that someone in his army had the courage to go and face Goliath. But Saul took one look at David and the criticism began all over again. “Why did you bring this guy in here. Isn’t it obvious this is hopeless. Now son, “I don’t have anything against you personally, and I admire your courage, but you don’t have what it takes. You are too young and too inexperience. Your body is no match for Goliath who is a seasoned warrior.”
Once again David could have hung his head low and gave in to the critic. After all, if the King says you don’t have what it takes, then you must not have it. My friends when God’s hand is upon you, it does not matter what you critics might have to say. God knows how to complete the good work in you that He has started.
You do not have to listen to your critics tell you what you cannot do. David had a relationship to God that others did not quite understand. God had given David some small victories in the past, and now God was ready for him to step up to another level. David was able to see, the same God who brought him through some small battles, could take him through the next larger one.
David had to fight through criticism, in order to get the chance to fight the real battle that would lift him up in ministry. You cannot go where you want to go in life without facing this issue of criticism.
One of Jesus’ goal was to preach the good news of the gospel to large groups of people. You would have thought that might have made his family proud, especially when large crowds began to appear. When you’re beginning to taste some success, you want your family to share it with you. But let’s read Mark 3:20-22 .
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." 22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
Jesus’ reward for doing what the God the Father told him to do was to have his family come to the conclusion, “The poor boy has lost his mind.” You know how in the movies they use to send people in white clothing to carry you out when they thought you had lost it. Jesus’ own family is sending in a group of people to put him in a straight jacket because they think he’s crazy. Jesus is gone mad.
To make matters worse, the religious leaders say, “no it’s not that he’s crazy, it’s more serious than that. He is possessed by demons from Satan.”
Jesus did not respond this time in anger, but Jesus did choose to respond to the religious leaders. Sometimes it’s right to challenge your critics in the statements that are being made. Sometimes you need to speak up and set the record straight. He pointed out the flaws in what the leaders were saying. There was too much at stake, for Jesus to allow the people to believe the lie of him being possessed by a demon.
Jesus also redefined who his family was going to be after they had arrived to take him away. Somebody told him, “your family is here now to take you away.” Jesus said, “no my family is made up of those who do the will of God. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, and sister, and mother.
In our New Testament reading in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Paul was dealing with criticism concerning his ministry. Some people in Corinth were thinking others were doing a much better job of ministry than Paul was. They had divided themselves among leaders . Some were saying, “I follow Paul”, some were saying “no I like Appollos style better”, still others were saying, “that’s fine but we prefer Peter”, and still others declared “we like Jesus’ style the best.”
If they were around today some would be saying “I follow Chuck Swindoll”, others “I follow Fred Price”, others, “no TD Jakes Is The Man when it comes to ministry.” As they criticized Paul’s style of ministry, Paul pointed out, “look the important thing is to recognize that we are all servants of Christ who have been entrusted with things from God.”
Let’s read verse 1 Cor. 4:1-4 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
There are two things in this passage when it comes to criticism. The first is that we should not depend on the approval of others in doing what God has called us to do. If we do, their criticism will be our downfall, because it’s not possible to serve two masters. We can be faithful to God or to the crowd. Never can we always be faithful to both.
The second thing we need to do with criticism is to ask is it justified. Paul said, “I don’t judge myself, but that does not mean I am correct. My conscience may say one thing, but what really is going to count, is what the Lord says about my behavior.”
Some criticism is sent by God to get us back on track. Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
God will rebuke us, and we will take it as criticism. If you have several people pointing out the same area in your life as needing some improvement, chances are the Lord is giving you a gentle rebuke. Just because we believe we are okay, does not mean that we are okay.
The same David whom God led through criticism, was later rebuked by God through the prophet Nathan for his behavior. Some criticism requires us to examine our actions from God’s point of view. It’s not always who is it that said it. The issue may be, “is this justified?” “Do I need to make a change?” “Can God be speaking to me.” Answer each of these questions in light of knowing, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account for what we have done.
Someone criticized me for a decision I made about a year ago in a letter. It got on my nerves, because I knew the charges made were not true because they involved the motives of the church as well as of me. I responded to the letter with a letter addressing each issue the person brought up trying to explain everything. It felt good to have given a reply, until about four months later, when the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “you were wrong in the way you handled that.”
At first I thought the Lord had made a mistake in His evaluation, so I reminded God of all that took place. Again a couple of months later, God told me again, “you were wrong in the way you handled that.” This time I agreed with God that He was right. I apologized to the person and asked for forgiveness. That which I had thought was criticism, was really a rebuke from God in the first place, showing me an area of weakness in my life that I needed to improve on as a leader. I should have prayed to God in the beginning for a response.
God can use all kinds of criticism that comes into our lives, if we yield ourselves to Him in the process. We already have a great example of it in Jesus Christ. Jesus was criticized from the day He began his earthly ministry until the day He died on the cross. He uttered those words, “father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Sometimes we have to utter those same words when criticism comes at us. But it’s equally important to know when to say, “Father forgive me, for I did not understand what I was doing.” . Let us not forget Jesus’ command to us, Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The same God that provided strength for Jesus, can provide strength for us . Let us remember that the next time we cry out, “Help somebody is criticizing me”, that we take time the time to ask, Lord what is it that you want me to take out of this.
Sermon Outline—Pastor Rick
3/28/04 1 Samuel 17:17-37 1 Corin 4:1-5
A. Who Is Familiar With Criticism
1. Helps Us To Remember What We
May Want To Forget
2. 25 Years Of School-Many Papers
3. The One I Did Not Forget
4. Religion Course 1/3 Of The Grade
5. If It Were Not For Your Intelligence
6. Creeping Deep Into The Soul
7. Paralyzing The Future
8. God Has Not Changed His Mind
B. Meet A Guy By The Name Eliab
1. First Born Of 8 Sons Of Jesse
2. Samuel Looks For A Future King
3. Eliab—Tall & Good Looking
4. God Looks At Something Else
5. The Last Is The Worse One Of All
C. God’s Choice Arrives On
1. David—Arise And Anoint Him
2. What About The Brothers
3. David—Bottom Of The Pole
D. King Saul Vs The Philistines
1. David’s 3 Oldest Brothers –Army
2. Philistine’s Challenge—Choose 1
3. Goliath Vs Shaq
4. King’s Reward—Money, Daughter
& No Taxes For Life
5. Jesse Sends David With Food
6. David, Most Expendable Off To
Battlefield Area
E. David Hears About Goliath
1. Nobody Is Willing To Risk It
2. David Asks Some Questions
3. Eliab Gets Upset
1 Samuel 17:28-31
When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
4. Criticism Flowing From Jealousy
5. Doing Right Is Not Enough To
Escape
6. Jesus Did Right But Got A Bad Rap
7. Jesus Is Helped By Satan????
F. Eliab Makes His Criticism Personal
1. Who Do You Think You Are
2. You’re Irresponsible & Selfish
3. Your Heart Is Wicked
4. Why The Attack
5. Is Eliab Going To Take On Goliath
6. Trying To Grow At Other’s
Expense
7. This Criticism Is Not New
G. David Keeps His Cool
1. Now What Have I Done
2. Why The Fronting Here
3. Why Not Feel Sorry For Myself
4. Everybody’s Laughing At Me
5. Forget Some Negative Evaluation
6. The D- That Didn’t Discourage
7. Criticism—Not A Reason To Quit
8. Not A Reason To Lash Out
9. If You’re So Bad
10. David Not There To Battle Eliab
11. God’s Target Was Goliath
12. Criticism From Home Hurts
13. David Shows Respect For Eliab
14. David Stayed On Task
H. David Willing To Fight
1. The King Is Glad For A Moment
2. It’s Obvious—Not Qualified
3. Not Evough Experience
4. Would Not Hang His Head
5. Remembered The God He Served
6. Time To Take A Step Up
7. Fight The Criticism To Get To The
Real Battle
I. Jesus On Task Led To Criticism
1. Preaching On Schedule
2. Family Not Ready For Success
Mark 3:20-22 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
3. Jesus’ Reward—He’s Lost It
4. The Man Is Possessed By Demons
5. Jesus Chooses To Respond
6. Sometimes—Set The Record
Straight
7. Jesus Redefines His Family
J. The Apostle Paul Faces Criticism
1. Who’s Ministry Is The Best
2. Paul, Apollos, Peter, Christ
3. Swindoll, Price, Jakes
1 Cor. 4:1-4 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
4. Don’t Depend Too Much On
Approval From Others
5. Is The Criticism Justified
6. Good Conscience Not Enough
7. Some Criticism Comes From God
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12because the LORD disciplines those he loves,as a father the son he delights in.
K. God Is Still In The Rebuking Business
1. God’s Rebuke Feels Like Criticism
2. How Many Are Pointing Out The
Same Area
3. Believing We’re Okay Does Not
Make It So
4. David Knew Encouragement &
Rebuke From God
5. Is This Justified
6. Is It Time For A Change
7. The Pastor—Right But Wrong
8. Trying To Correct God
9. God Is Relentless
10. Another Apology
L. God Uses Criticism To Help Us Grow
1. Jesus Is Our Example
2. Back To Father Forgive Them
Luke 6:27-28 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
3. God Is The Strength Giver
