Listening to the one or The One?

My niece, Jamie Adele Wood, founder of Discovering Truth Ministries, often speaks at women’s events. She likes to share a personal story about an embarrassing situation she experienced with her two young sons at Costco. Let’s just say that it involved a whole flat of broken eggs. And a lot of humiliation. And encouragement to “run”—to escape the horrified stares of people in the store.

Women at the gatherings laugh heartily. They love and learn from her illustration.

But once, there was this woman. . . .

The critic made a beeline to confront Jamie, making it clear how she thought the awkward situation SHOULD have been handled. The woman’s scolding stunned and stung. My niece is sweet and godly, but she’s also human. The one critic threatened to undo her. Satan tried to tempt Jamie to concentrate on the critic and forget the blessing she’d been to so many other women.

At a recent family gathering, Jamie described her critic. The description perfectly fit what the culture now labels as “a Karen.”* We all laughed, understanding exactly what she meant!

Later, thinking about Jamie’s story and the hurtful criticism, God nudged my heart: “Dawn, how often have YOU been bothered by one critic after I used you to teach and bless at a women’s event or through your writing?”

I’m not negating our need to hear our critics, because there might be an element of truth the Lord doesn’t want us to miss. There might be something in their comments that He wants to use to teach us or change in us. The lesson is far more consequential than the criticism. Our real struggle is our hearts.

Why are we so bothered by the words of one critic, when our big-picture audience is “The One”?

Are we so caught up in pleasing people, or so pridefully sensitive to criticism, that we instantly react rather than respond biblically, respectfully, and lovingly to those who lash out? Ouch! Been there, done that—reacted big time! Why? I often find that, to my shame, I love human praise more than praise from God (John 12:43).

People pleasing is based in a fear of man rather than fear of and respect for God (Proverbs 29:25). Fear of man can be a trap, a “snare” that has the potential to compromise our personal integrity or commitment to living in truth.

God’s Word sets the standard for our ministry. Paul said, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). The apostle also said we are to work from a surrendered heart, “as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).”We are not trying to please people,” Paul said, “but God, who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalionians 2:4).

Coveting earthly applause for ourselves is never the right attitude or motivation for a servant of God. Seeking or trying to win human approval instead of God’s will keeps us from truly serving Christ. Rather than looking to Jesus and seeking glory for Him, we’ll always be looking over our shoulder to see if we have a following.

My prayer is that I will live (and speak and write and act) for the approval of the only One who matters—my Father in heaven. Is that your prayer, too?

[* Note: While “Karen” has become shorthand for a fault-finding or cantankerous woman, it’s terribly untrue, unfair, and unkind in describing most actual Karens. I refuse to use the label.]

Graphic by TungLam (Tungart7) at Pixabay.