The Critical Spirit - The One Year Salt and Light Devotional

Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. (Philippians 2:14-15)

ONE OF MOSES’ GREATEST CHALLENGES in the entire story of the Exodus was the constant complaints he received from his critics. They blamed him for their increasing difficulties in Egypt, for leading them toward certain doom at the edge of the Red Sea, and for practically every moment of hunger, thirst, and hardship in the wilderness. Ultimately, the complainers caused the whole nation to delay its entry into the Promised Land by an entire generation—forty years. God was very displeased with the critical spirit among them.

You are probably well aware that complaining is not a gift of the Spirit. Neither is criticism, cynicism, or contentiousness. Yet in spite of that knowledge, Christians can be remarkably similar to the Israelites and the general population in their ability to criticize and harp on the faults seen in those around them, blame their own circumstances on the decisions of others, and vilify those who don’t agree with them. Pastors and other church leaders often lament the amount of criticism directed at them, as if their job is to please everyone; families are divided by the disapproval of a parent, a child, or a sibling; and colleagues avoid coworkers who know only how to complain without offering any solutions. A negative attitude is rarely of benefit to ourselves or anyone around us. In fact, it is not at all a reflection of the God of hope and peace.

Don’t get caught up in the spirit of the world, which speaks the language of criticism and complaint far too fluently. You are called to a different way—a different attitude expressed by different words coming from a different heart. People are drawn to a hopeful, encouraging spirit; their insecurities need reassurance from the Spirit of God. You are the vessel for that reassurance. Do everything without criticizing or complaining so others can see the hope—the light of truth—within you.

{Holy Spirit, fill me with the fruit of your presence to such a degree that there is no more room for the fruit of my own insecurities and frustrations. Let my heart overflow with hope, encouragement, and a willingness to serve. Amen.