We recently read a very fine article by
J.D. Jeffcoat entitled "Discourager of Men." Indeed, churches everywhere are
troubled by those who are constantly discouraging others. But something
needs to be said also concerning those who allow themselves to be
discouraged.
Some are discouraged by criticism. Every
person who has tried to do God's will has been criticized. Jesus was
constantly criticized. So was Moses. Paul once said, "All those in Asia have
turned away from me"
(2 Timothy 1:15),
and apparently he was afraid that Timothy might be affected by this adverse
criticism against Paul
(2 Timothy 1:8).
Do you listen to others when they criticize you? Do you listen when they
criticize the local church of which you are a part or some good person
within the congregation? Do you allow their negative comments to affect your
feelings? Or do you cast aside their discouraging remarks that you might
maintain a positive attitude toward the Lord, His church, and His work?
Criticism may be just. But, on the other
hand, it may be an outgrowth of envy toward others; or it may be a dishonest
effort to destroy another; or it may just be the product of ignorance as to
what is right and wrong, consequently ignorance of what deserves criticism
and what deserves praise. One must not be discouraged in the Lord's work by
unjust criticism.
Others are discouraged by the chronic
pessimist. This is the man who is always reminding the church that "it won't
do any good," and that "this is just a hard area and we're never going to
convert people here." He can in one business meeting totally demoralize a
whole church, and can destroy in one sitting that which took a year to build
up. He is the true "discourager of men." But if he is wrong in discouraging,
others are wrong in allowing themselves to be discouraged by his pessimistic
remarks.
The apostles serve as a perfect example of
men who refused to be discouraged. They were constantly faced with setbacks;
their teaching was attacked; they suffered from those within and from those
without. It was said of them: "To the present hour we both hunger and
thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and home-less. And we labor,
working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we
endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the
world, the offscouring of all things until now"
(1 Corinthians
4:11-13). But they kept on
preaching!
Blessed is that man who is not easily
discouraged by others; who can see through unworthy criticism for what it
really is; who takes his stand for truth and right and does not let others
move him from that stand. Let us avoid being either a "discourager of men"
or "discouraged of men." Rather, let us be found working for the Lord,
encouraging and finding encouragement in the hope we have in Christ.
