What to Do When Criticized

I’ve been reading a book called Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders.  It is filled with principles and insights about Christianity and spiritual leadership.  I just came across something that I wanted to share:

•       Samuel Brengle, noted for his sense of holiness, felt the heat of caustic criticism. Instead of rushing to defend himself, he replied: “From my heart I thank you for your rebuke. I think I deserved it. Will you, my friend, remember me in prayer?” When another critic attacked his spiritual life, Brengle replied: “I thank you for your criticism of my life. It set me to self-examination and heart-searching and prayer, which always leads me into a deeper sense of my utter dependence on Jesus for holiness of heart, and into sweet fellowship with Him.”
•       With such a response, criticism is turned from a curse into a blessing, from a liability into an asset.

When I read this, I let out an audible “hm” at the required humility of such a response.  Nowadays, a response such as this would be viewed as sarcastic, simply by the nature of today’s society and prevalent attitudes that we are used to encountering.  Were I humble enough for this response to naturally protrude from my lips, I would ironically be a much greater man.  To truly feel grateful at a critique rather than to feel bitter towards the critiquer is an attitude that only God can imbue.  My prayer is that I would be so humble.