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“Thanks, I Needed That!”
After I pulled up behind the resale shop downtown to unload some items, a man who had been working in the alley informed me, “Your front tire is low.” I thanked him, and in a few minutes of using the inflator, the pressure was back to normal. That stranger did me a real favor. Otherwise, I might have ruined the tire.
Another example
If I ask others to proofread my writing, should I hope they won’t find any errors, even if there are some? If there’s a mistake, I want to know it. Other more objective eyes could see what mine had overlooked.
But what if it starts getting personal?
Would I be just as grateful to someone for pointing out a shortcoming in my life that needs correcting? Even when correction is given gently and lovingly (Galatians 6:1-2), why do we humans so often get defensive and feel resentful when we could really benefit from constructive criticism? It is no time to lash back with “Judge not that ye be not judged.”
Is our pride showing?
What if the apostle Peter had taken offense when Jesus or Paul had to correct him?
Instead he grew.
David had the humility to admit, “I have sinned against the LORD” when the prophet Nathan rebuked him for his sins (2 Samuel 12:13 NASB).
Instead of resenting he repented.
On another occasion he wrote, “Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it . . .” (Psalm 141:5).
This old head needs a dose of oil occasionally.
How about yours?
