Criticism

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another. Prov 27:17

Albert Einstein once wrote on a chalkboard:
9 x 1 = 9
9 x 2 = 18
9 x 3 = 27
9 x 4 = 36
9 x 5 = 45
9 x 6 = 54
9 x 7 = 63
9 x 8 = 72
9 x 9 = 81
9 x 10 = 91

Suddenly. chaos erupted in the classroom because Einstein made a mistake.

Obviously, the correct answer to 9 × 10 isn’t 91, and all his students ridiculed him.

Einstein waited for everyone to be silent and said:
“Despite the fact that I analyzed nine problems correctly, no one congratulated me.  But when I made one mistake, everyone started laughing.

This means that even if a person is successful, society will notice the slightest mistake.

So, don’t let criticism destroy your dreams.

The only person who never makes a mistake is someone who does nothing.”

Criticism has always been a thing.

As the social media ‘age’ has taken hold, it has become an even bigger thing.

People can say what they want, when they want, commenting on any subject under the sun and do so with relative anonymity and thus few consequences.

Very few people ever get slapped for their terrible words on social media.

This has led society into being more harsh, more crass.
The days of a ‘kinder gentler nation’ are long gone leaving us with the bare light bulb version of life that we see today.

Criticism stings.

So, we generally avoid it at all costs.

The problem is that when we suffer hurt from one particular source, we tend to take a scorched earth stance and turn off any source that might hurt us.

So, when criticism hurts, we switch off counsel – good and bad.

‘Iron sharpening iron…’

When iron ‘hits’ iron the material is damaged, wounded if you will. It is brutal.

This is a painful but necessary process.

The material continues in the process until the beautiful, useable end is accomplished…a magnificent, strong, sharp blade.

This is the way of life for the people of ‘The Way.’

If we don’t sharpen one another, we will become dull…duh.

But, there’s more to the story.
Most people never get to the point of once being sharp and needing a resharpening. Most are more akin to being sword ‘blanks’…good steel that has the shape of a blade but has never been put to even the most basic of sharpening. Just blunt edges having the appearance of a sword but none of the usefulness.

Where are you today?

Have you ever been sharp?

Maybe today is the day to begin basic sharpening.

Today is the day to reach out to a fellow ‘iron person’ and give and receive sharpening.

Who is this for you?
CALL THEM TODAY!

Consider this a call to arms.

We are at war.

You have been prayed for today.

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