Criticism--How do you deal with it?--2nd Corinthians chapter 10

Life would be more pleasant if everyone followed the admonition to have "a critical mind without a critical spirit."   But many don't, so you're going to be criticized.  Sometimes the criticism is valid and if it is, pay attention to it.   ". . . reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge."  Proverbs 19:25 

        But there are also people who would tear down rather than build up.  So how do you deal with unjust criticism?

        1. Ignore it if you can.  Don't jump to your own defense. 

        2. Overlook others' faults.  "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." Col. 3:13 ESV

        3. Do not reciprocate.  Follow Jesus' example:  "when they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:23 NIV

        In the 10th chapter of 2nd Corinthians the Apostle Paul is dealing with false teachers who were trying to take the Corinthian church away from the pure gospel of Christ and to teach them worldly wisdom.  He had to have firmness against them because the issues were great and he appealed to the Corinthians to listen to the truth of the Word of God instead of to false teachings.  When others criticized him for being weak and not eloquent of speech, he agreed with them.  And since so many people had come to Christ in the Corinthian church, that just pointed out that it was the power of God and not Paul's ability that was building the church.  God uses "the weak things of the world to confound the wise."  Paul was aware that he was totally dependent upon the power of God and not on his own persuasiveness.

        What were Paul's characteristics as a man of God, a man greatly used by God, a vessel fit for the Master's use?

        1. He did not use the world's methods.  2 Cor. 10:3-5  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. . . .bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  1 Cor. 2:1-5  "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God."  He never manipulated others or tried to "out-psych" them nor did he seek "political power" within the church.

        2. Paul was a man of integrity.  His life backed up his words.  He lived what he taught.

        3. God showed His approval of Paul.  "He is my chosen vessel," God told the prophet Ananias in Acts 9.  And the Holy Spirit attested to the truth Paul was teaching by  His Presence in power.

        4. Paul was humble.  10:12-18  "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

        5. He was unwilling to compare himself with others.  10:12

        6. He was willing to minister wherever God led him.  And we'll see where that took him in chapter 11!

        7. Paul did not seek to take credit for himself but sought only the Lord's glory.  2 Cor. 10:17  "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."  1 Cor. 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."