Today's passage had A TON of insights I could write about, but one pattern I noticed was focused on cynicism, criticism and encouragement.
The highlighted portion of this verse stood out to me:
The person who's always cooking up some evil
soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.
Fools incubate sin;
cynics desecrate beauty.
Isn't that so true? When we're cynical or critical, we often miss the heart of someone or something else. Think about your best friend, favorite musician or leader--the odds are, that person has been criticized...perhaps for the characteristics that make them absolutely amazing in your eyes.
I thought this verse was also enlightening:
Don't jump to conclusions—
there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.
How many of us need that reminder often? Sometimes we are cynical or critical about things we just don't understand. We could be missing some major factors that, if we knew them, would lead us to a totally different judgment call.
Is it ever appropriate to critique someone else? Yes--but instead of critique or even "constructive criticism," I'd argue that we should offer encouragement to others...we should encourage them to be the people God has called them to be in a way that's challenging, but inspiring and filled with love. Take a look at these verses:
The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise friend's timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.
Patient persistence pierces through indifference;
gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
I don't know about you, but I've had few moments in life where I would compare a reprimand to a gold ring on my finger. That means that the reprimand didn't feel like a reprimand. These kinds of critiques come from people who actually like us. They are very valuable gifts that make us better...which is why I prefer to label such reprimands as encouragement. (Sidenote: This may sound ridiculous, but I almost picture a person asking for this kind of critique by singing a tweaked version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" song..."If you like it, then should have put a ring on it.") :)
The point? Encouraging critique has its place. Cynicism doesn't. Dare to see and encourage the beauty and heart in others.
Related post: This is an old blog post I wrote a few years ago on a similar topic and I thought you might enjoy it. Read "The Critics' Corner."
Tomorrow: Proverbs 27-29
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