A Quick Reference for Criticism

Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, Who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand. For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.

How often do we get caught up in complaining about or criticizing our Christian brothers and sisters in what we think they should be doing?

For instance, let's say Brother John from church rarely gives his time in the 'service' of the LORD, we think, and so we assume he isn't doing much for the kingdom of God. Yet unbeknownst to us, he is already fulfilling the call of God on his life doing things that we are not aware of. He may not be volunteering his time and efforts for all of the church programs and events going on, but he is doing what God tells him to do whenever he is told to.

Yes we should all be contributing to what the LORD's call is on our lives and fulfilling our part in His kingdom, but not all of our calls are the same. Just like with the example of David and his men: David's men who went out and fought the battle and brought back the spoil did not think the men who stayed at the camp were deserving to partake of the spoil because they were not the actual ones who fought for it. But David had to correct them in saying that their duty was just as important as those who fought. In fact, in verse 22, God calls the men who thought this way sons of Belial (sons of the devil, useless, good for nothing, wicked, evil):

Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

Therefore, when sometimes it may seem that people aren't 'doing' as much for the kingdom of God as we are, we mustn't be quick to criticize or complain. They may be the ones who are fervently praying for us and other fellow believers because we lack the time to. Or they may be doing things behind the scenes that are going unnoticed in our eyes, but are being seen in the eyes of the LORD. They may have a writing ministry on some blog somewhere that we don't even know about; or they may be feeding homeless people while giving them the gospel during their free time. They may be out witnessing to people trying to spread the truth of God's Word; or they may be the ones who are interceding on behalf of our country. Ultimately, we have to remember:

The body of Christ is a body:

But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet one body. (1Corinthians 12.18-20)