October 31
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ON CRITICISM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE
A poem by ILMA
When you become a believer, you mustn’t speak ill of each other
If you criticize and judge one another, you are attacking God’s law
The only thing we need to do is to obey God’s commands
You can’t think that the decree is only for others to follow
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge
He alone has the power to save or to destroy
What right do you have to judge your neighbor?
You can’t predict or foresee what is going to happen in the future
You can’t assume that your plans are going to all happen
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?
Your life is like a mist, it is there now but can be gone next day
As believers, you need to rely only on God’s grace and plans
You cannot predict things will happen for that is a form of boasting
All boasting is evil and remember it is sin to know what to do and not do it.
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MEMORY VERSE
Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. – James 4:11
Read: James 4:11-17
Why is it easy for us to criticize than to affirm someone? It is part of our fallen nature to point other people’s sin or weaknesses rather than examine our own faults. When we talk evil of others or criticize them, we are questioning God’s creation. All of us are created by God, so what right do we have to say that his creation is evil or mediocre?
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think assumption and presumption is a form of boasting?
• Why does James consider boasting as evil? What is the source of arrogance?
• What are the consequences of judging or criticizing someone?
• Why is omitting to do what you know you need to do is considered a sin?