Bullhorn

How do you stay encouraged in ministry? There will be times for anyone who is serving in ministry full-time, part-time, or volunteer that someone will be critical of your ministry. Often there is "constructive criticism" and then there is irrational critics. Constructive criticism is needed to help one grow to minister more fully to the glory of God. Then there is the irrational critic who seems to come at you with a bullhorn privately or publicly through gossip. JB Myers had a great sermon about critics yesterday and this thought really struck me loud and clear from II Thessalonians 3:11; "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies." The premise of what is being written is that everyone needs to be about doing the work of God. This verse particularly states that there are some people who are about the work of being involved in other peoples lives as "busybodies" who are going around gossipping about others and their ministry. They do not need to be idle, instead they need to get busy about the work of God.

Criticism is needed sometimes, but when your critics have a bullhorn remember they could be the one who is being idle and not about the work of God. When we are busy for His name we do not have time to be critics of others (Luke 6:42).