Who Do You Think You Are?

“Who do you think you are telling me to…”

Okay, I’ll admit it.  I’m guilty.  There have been times when this thought danced in my mind while outwardly, I patiently smiled and listened while I was being corrected or critiqued.

If we’re not careful, it would be easy to dismiss whatever criticisms are given, whether valid or invalid by thinking, “Who does this person think he is?  After all, I’m the professional here.  What does this person know?”

Whether you’re a lawyer, homemaker, engineer, or a teacher, let me just warn against developing such an attitude.  Before you bristle at your next criticism, remember the attitude Peter possessed when he, an experienced fisherman, was told by a carpenter how to fish. Peter listened and was blessed (Luke 5:4-5).  Friends, you don’t have to be a “professional” to be right.

May we all work at being more “swift to hear” (James 1:19) and slower to defend ourselves.  Give it some thought!

Steve Higginbotham