Dealing with Criticism

2 Corinthians 1:12-23

Introduction:

So far in our study of 2 Corinthians we have seen:

*It is God whom we need to turn to in times of tribulation

*It is God who is able to help us in our times of need

*The suffering that Paul had gone through

*The ways God had used Paul’s suffering

-Enabled him to comfort others

-Caused him to trust in the Lord

-Caused prayers to be offered for him (body worked as body)

Question for today is:

When people suffer how do they react?

Suffering tends to bring out the best and the worst in people

Hurricane season on Gulf Coast:

Picture after picture on news of people putting themselves in harms way after loosing everything they owned to help other people

See people lining up in their own boats to help get people from harms way

See/hear people all over country (world) giving money and supplies to help; many even took people into their own home to care for needs

All great examples of something positive coming out of this tragedy

AT THE SAME TIME

*Pictures of looters taking advantage of situation to steal

*Stories of people shooting at the rescuers

*Stories of people setting up and giving out Red Cross flyers to scam people

*People sitting back and overly criticizing what was being done

Hardship certainly brings out the best and the worst in people

Watched the dramatic footage on the news Thursday of a Jet Blue jet making an emergency landing with its front landing gear turned sideways. Listened to the interviews with some of the passengers as they shared how some had fallen apart prior to the landing and others had remained calm and strong and therefore were able to help the others.

Again we see that different people react differently to the same crisis.

Paul had suffered a great deal, so had those in Corinth and Paul is writing to give them comfort. Just as we have seen in the previous examples, not everyone was reacting in a positive way to that suffering.

Some became critical of Paul, seeming because he did not come to them when he had told them he was going to (see vv. 15-16).

Paul is a great example to us in how to deal with unfair criticism:

1. Paul examined his motives

2. Paul confronted those who his accusers

3. Paul was blatantly honest

I. Paul stopped and examined his motives vv. 12-13

Often what the tendency is when we are criticized is to instantly throw up our shields and claim our innocence or we begin to throw criticism back in the other direction.

I believe that Paul stopped and considered the criticism: Is there any truth in what is being said? Did I say/do something that I shouldn’t have?

In order to do this Paul examines his motives:

1. We conducted ourselves with simplicity

There are two ideas associated with simplicity:

1) With holiness: Paul conducted himself with holiness: doing what was right in the sight of God

As he looked at what he did, he could declare that it was right before God

2) With one goal in mind: Paul had a goal, everything he did revolved around that goal.

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 shares what Paul’s goal was:

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

As Paul looked at what he was criticized for he had to ask why he did it: the answer was that it glorified God.

Can we always say the same? Is our simple purpose to glorify God or to glorify ourselves?

2. We conducted ourselves with godly sincerity

Again refers to the purity of Paul’s intention.

Even if God was to shine His light on it, it would still be pure and right

How often are we that transparent in our motives?

3. We conducted ourselves by the grace of God and not by worldly wisdom

What we did was by God’s leading and not our own wisdom or thought

What we did was what God led us to do, we were just faithful in following Him

This is what it all boils down to: Was I faithful to the Lord? Did I follow His leading and direction or my own?

Paul was certain that what he did was what God wanted, so he was confident of doing the right thing!!

4. We conducted ourselves more abundantly toward you

Almost as if Paul is saying here that the Corinthian people had seen his character and conduct in the past.

Perhaps they had seen it more than any other Church/people.

I wonder how we would make out saying to people: “Look at my life and my past actions toward you, because you can see that I have been upright and honest you know that it will continue.”

5. We conducted ourselves with truth and honesty v. 13

Look at what we have written to you, we have not written anything contradictory. What we have said and taught we continue to do the same. It is the truth and will continue to be the truth.

How much easier it is to maintain our integrity that it is to regain it once it is lost!!

I. Paul examined his motives and found them to be pure

II. Paul confronted the accusation vv. 15-17

This is a vital point: Paul confronted the accusation and the accusers directly.

So often what we do is talk about the false accusation with everyone but those that are making it.

This is one of the areas that I believe that Christians fall down more than many others. When someone wrongs us or criticizes us we do a good job of telling others how “unspiritual” someone is. We often call the Pastor and complain, call others and complain, and yet if someone suggests going to the person and dealing with it directly the idea is not even considered.

Scripture is so clear on how to deal with it. If someone has offended you go to them and deal with it properly.

Paul attacks the accusation head on.

He had planned to come and spend time with the Church

1 Cor. 16:5-9

That plan had been interrupted and Paul was not able to come as planned and evidently many had used that to criticize him. Paul’s defense is:

*When I told you my plans I was sincere

*When I told you my plans I was planning according to the flesh

I told you what I wanted to do

*When I told you those plans I did not take it light

The problem came when the Lord had different plans. He had said in 16:7 “if the Lord permits.”

Paul is sharing details about what happened. Warning: If you are going to criticize get all the facts or realize that you may not have all the facts.

I. Paul examined his motives

II. Paul confronted the accusations and the accusers

III. Paul was blatantly honest vv. 18-24

When I said yes I meant yes, when I said no I meant no!

Paul didn’t just tell people what they wanted to hear, he told them the truth.

We need to learn a lesson from that today as well.

He compared his own honesty to the honesty of the Lord: not to the honesty of others

v. 18 “As God is faithful….”

v. 20 “All the promises of God are in Him yes….”

How many of us could compare our honesty to that of the Lord?

That probably means that we have work to do.

v. 23a “I call God as witness against my soul!”