Criticized for Doing Good

by Alan Smith

    While the truth and the origin of the following story are unknown, nearly all of us have experienced the point it makes!

A Post Office worker, at the main sorting office, finds an unstamped, poorly hand-written envelope, addressed to God. He opens it and discovers it is from an elderly lady, distressed because all her savings -- $200 -- have been stolen. She will be cold and hungry this Christmas.

He organizes the postal workers, who dig deep and come up with $180 to donate. They get it to her by special courier the same morning. A week later, the same postal worker recognizes the same handwriting on another envelope. He opens it.

"Dear God, Thank you for the $180 for Christmas, which would have been so bleak otherwise.

P.S. It was $20 short but that was probably those thieving workers at the Post Office."

    Criticism is never easy to accept, but it is at least easier to accept when it is deserved. Being criticized for something we didn't do, especially when we were trying to do something nice, is tough to handle. It's bad enough not to be appreciated for our acts of kindness; it's even worse to be slandered. And yet Peter said we should be thankful for those times!

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:19-20)

    What's the benefit of being mistreated?

    Well, for one thing, it puts us in pretty good company.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:20)

    In addition, God will bless us for it and our example may give us the opportunity to share with others the reason we are different -- our hope!

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. (1 Peter 3:14-16)

Posted: 06/21/2003
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200306/20030621_good.html

(c) 2003 Alan Smith <Alan.Smith@whcoc.com>. Used by permission. This devotional was reprinted from "Thought for the Day." <http://www.TFTD-online.com>

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