May 20
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5)
CRITICAL SPIRIT: Are you critical toward others? Do you think the worst of others, either their capabilities or their motives? Do you enjoy cutting down others and deflating them, elevating yourself above them by insulting them or making comments that embarrass or diminish them in some way? Are you the kind of person that is more likely to sap energy from others by being negative, or do you give energy to others by being encouraging? When you see others and hear of their progress or successes, do you in your mind begin to be jealous of them and begin finding fault with them and diminishing their talents and accomplishments? Are you quick to make quips and “jokes” that demean and tear down others? Are there people in your life about whom you find it very difficult to think positive thoughts? Do you tend to be at peace with others or tend to be at odds with others? Are you the one who is quick to voice a contrary opinion? Do you ever enjoy being contrary just for the sake of being contrary? Are you ever critical of God and how He has chosen to deal with you? Do you resent God or others for their shortcomings? Do you have overly high expectations for others, and do you have a hard time letting go of their perceived faults in your mind? Are you very reserved in giving your approval and affirmation to others? Are you a perfectionist when it comes to evaluating the character and performance of others? Do you have a very high standard for others to meet before they win your approval (a standard which you yourself don’t achieve, if you are honest with yourself, but somehow expect others to meet it)?
SARCASM: Are you quick to pour cold water on the plans or opinions of others by suggesting that somewhere along the way the incompetence or ill motives of others will ruin the plans? Do you say things that put others on the spot, making them feel exasperated and frustrated, stating or suggesting that they have ill motives or intentions? Do you bring a cloud of doubt and distrust to the ideas and initiatives of others, and perhaps even your own? Are you hindered from moving forward by your inability to believe that people may be trusted and things might just turn out okay?
DEMANDING and CONTROLLING: Do you have high standards and expectations for yourself and others? Do you have to be the one in charge? Do you find it difficult to follow the direction of others or go along with the way that others want to do things? Do you enjoy or need to be in control of others? Do you override or overrule what others are doing because they did not get your approval first? Do you like to make it difficult for others to do things and succeed? Do you have specific ways that things have to be done? Do you have high expectations for others and insist that they comply with your standards? Are you disappointed or even resentful when others do not do things as you desire them to be done, or if people do not follow your counsel? Do you find it difficult to let go of things when they are not done the way you want them to be done?
As you can imagine, these types of people and these types of sins can be very exasperating! I have been around people like this, and I have been a person with these traits and have exasperated those around me. Tomorrow we will wrap this up and discuss how we can overcome these types of sins.