Overcoming People-Pleasing: No One Has Ever Erected a Statue to a Critic

by David Chadwick

How do we overcome the temptation to live as people-pleasers? First, remember that people make lousy gods. Secondly, don’t worry about what people think about you. They are too busy thinking about themselves.

And today - remember that no one has ever erected a statue to a critic.

Statues have typically been erected to people who have carried significant roles in history. To heroes. To champions of good and moral living. Not to critics. Not to people who were constantly scorning and nitpicking those around them.

Take Noah for example. God told him to build an ark. Everyone else thought he was crazy. They mocked and criticized him. But who ended up living through the worldwide flood? Noah. Not the critics.

How can you be set free? Listen to constructive criticism. Especially when given by a friend or loved one who has your best at heart.

Proverbs 15:31-33 says, “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”

No one is perfect. Each one of us has failed at one point or another. We all have blind spots. We all can grow in numerous ways.

What about the negative, acerbic criticism from people who have your harm as their desire? Those trying to bring you down and disrupt the calling that God has for you? Throw it aside! Don’t listen. Give the pain back to God. Eventually, people become weary of negative people and will stop paying attention to them.

Learn from the positive, caring feedback given by true friends. Throw the rest away from perpetual critics.

And always remember. No one has ever erected a statue to a critic.