«l sent messengers to say to them, ‘I am doing important work and can’t go down there. I am not going to let the work stop just to go and see you’ » (Nehemiah 6:3, GNT).
Sometimes, when our enemies make fun of us and criticize us, the best thing we can do is follow Nehemiah’s example. Instead of wasting our time providing explanations for those who have no desire to understand, we can simply say, «l am too busy and I am doing an important job. I have no time for this.»
Nehemiah’s enemies panicked when they noticed the wall had been rebuilt and only the doors were missing. If they did not manage to distract Nehemiah soon, the project would be finished in record time and Israel’s future would be assured. Feigning they wanted to solve their disputes, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem invited Nehemiah to meet with them in another village, in Kefirim. Nehemiah refused four times, simply telling them he had no time to waste. After having spent years serving as King Artaxerxes’s cupbearer, Nehemiah could smell a conspiracy miles away! But his enemies did not give up. They invited him a fifth time, saying it was rumored he was building the wall to become the next king of the Jews. If Nehemiah did not meet with them, they threatened, they would inform King Artaxerxes. Although they accused him of being a traitor, Nehemiah simply said, «Nothing of what you are saying is true. You have made it all up yourself» (Nehemiah 6:8, GND. Without wasting a minute further, he went on with the work God had entrusted to him. He did not tire himself out by giving explanations, nor did he go to Kefirim to convince the people in that village that the rumors were false. He simply prayed, «God, give me more strength» and went on with his work.
Sometimes criticism can help us grow and mature; other times, paying heed to it could be a great waste of time. Winston Churchill explained it in these words: «We do not respond to criticism. We do not respond to slander. . . . If we did, all our time would be spent fighting off attacks» (as quoted in Liderazgo con propósito, by Rick Warren). Sometimes the best thing you can do is realize there is no time to waste.
Lord, I need discernment so as not to waste time on accusations and slander.
Please help me, according to Your promises (James 1:5). Show me when I should pay heed to a critical comment and when I should ignore it completely.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
