Unfortunately, we always reap what we sow, and when we tear others down with our criticism, we ourselves are criticized, sometimes to the point of pain. He who lives by the sword of criticism, will die by the sword of criticism.

Date:   12/18/2007 10:29:21 AM ( 17 y ago)

There are those who live their life by being dramatic, outlandish, and love it.  They consider themselves great debaters, and quite capable of "getting back" at any perceived insult or putdown.  This is probably learned in childhood, in a dysfunctional family, where parties lack the skills of conflict resolution.  Did your parents use drama to resolve problems?  Was your home life like a soap opera?

Have you ever noticed crabs in a barrel?  One tries to crawl to the top, but can't reach it because the remaining crabs hit at him and pull him back down.  How like crabs we are sometime!  Are we so jealous of another person and so low in our own self worth that the only way we can feel good about ourselves is to adopt the crab mentality.  But there is a method in our madness!  By adopting the crab mentality and focusing on preventing the crab who is achieving from continuing, we do not have to focus on our own lack of progress.  Sad, huh?  Unfortunately, we always reap what we sow, and when we tear others down with our criticism, we ourselves are criticized, sometimes to the point of pain.  He who lives by the sword of criticism, will die by the sword of criticism.  

Criticism is often the most hurtful thing to us, so we use that weapon to hurt others.  We want to cry out - I HURT!  I HAVE SUCH PAIN!  With a history of no one understanding our pain, we turn then to inflict pain - "Here, understand this!"

How sad we are!  What is the answer?  To work on our own stuff.  To keep quiet and not be concerned with what other people think, of us or of anything, but to study what we are planting, and if we are not thriving on what we are planting, to plant something else.  If you plant an apple seed, you will not reap tomatoes.  God is not mocked.  If you sow discord, you will reap discord.  If you sow encouragement, you will reap encouragement.  If you support yourself, you will get support from others.  If you love yourself, you will be able to love others.  If you do not, it is nearly impossible.  If you love others, you can begin to learn to love yourself.  

Do you want love in your life?  Plant love.  Do you want encouragement?  Plant encouragement.  Do you need support?  Plant support.   Stop planting judgment, criticism, and discord if that is not what you want to reap.


 "13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[c] 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another."

Galatians 5:13-15  NLT




Galatians 6 NLT
We Harvest What We Plant
 1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer[a] is overcome by some sin, you who are godly[b] should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

 6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
 

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