A critical spirit is like the dirt on the man's glasses. He thought the fault was with the station attendant, while the problem was with himself. A person with a critical spirit has a negative outlook on life because he must look through the dirt on his own heart.

A judgment based upon partial information brings the wrong evaluation. A proper assessment can't be made without having all the facts.

Example: An employee in a plant criticizes his boss because his workweek is reduced by 5 hours. What the employee doesn't realize is the boss saved the employee's job by reducing everyone's hours.

Example: A football fan criticizes the coach for passing the ball instead of running it. What the fan doesn't realize is the top running back sprained his ankle.

He was angry because the women sang Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. It upset him that the people preferred David over him.

Saul looked upon David with suspicion from that day onward. He spent the rest of his life trying to kill him because he felt threatened by David.

Many people criticize because they feel threatened by others. Their poor self-image causes them to belittle others in order to elevate themselves.

If a marriage is experiencing difficulties a husband or wife might complain about his or her spouse, rather than trying to solve the problem. An employee can stir up trouble at work through complaining to other employees rather than trying to solve the problem.

If the world hated Jesus, it will also hate those who follow him. We should expect the world to hate us and receive it as being normal.

The one who has understanding has a teachable spirit, but the fool will never make corrections in his life.

We must learn that God uses our critics to reveal a fault that needs correcting. We need to receive that instruction, even if it comes from a hateful person.

Abishai was looking at Shimei from a human point of view, but David saw him from God’s perspective.

We should be glad in that day and leap for joy.

Our reward is great in heaven.

If we will respond correctly to our critics, God will use them to help us gain eternal rewards. If we will see the criticism as God's way of giving us heavenly treasure, it will motivate us to leap for joy.

David was a man of bloodshed, which kept him from building the temple.

The critics found the weaknesses in his plan that he couldn't see. By having the weaknesses exposed, he was able to correct them.

Our critics will real our weaknesses so we can either correct them or depend more upon Christ for our strength.

He didn’t defend himself because no matter how good an argument he had to defend himself, they would not have received it. Their minds were already made up against him.

We lower ourselves to their level. We pick up the demonic sword of revenge, which will only cause the criticism to increase. We must learn to absorb the criticism without retaliating, knowing that God knows the truth about the situation.

Satan uses the critics to discourage us when we are doing the work of the Lord. If he can discourage us and make us quit, he has nullified our effectiveness.