No matter how long we are in leadership circles and regardless of how long we’ve been a Christian, receiving feedback can be difficult. 

The Christian leader must know that, directly and indirectly, Jesus is going to put people in our lives to confront us with our sin. If we resist this process, refusing to be held accountable, the result can be spiritual blindness and isolation, a sure recipe for poor decisions and repeated mistakes. 

This doesn’t mean that we PRETEND to receive it well but still walk away offended.  

With Jesus’ help, wise leaders purposefully REFLECT on the correction, not merely to improve in skill or decision-making powers, but for our HEARTS to be corrected. 

God is a God of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and is ALWAYS in the business of renovating ours.

Here Are Two Reasons Wise Leaders should SEEK Constructive, Corrective Feedback:

1. Correctability Saves Us From The Consequences Of Unrepentant Sin. 

If we could see where sin wants to take us, we wouldn’t want to go. 

A large chunk of the Old Testament is the story of God trying to talk the Israelites out of hurting themselves. Again and again, He tried to warn the His people that their sin would eventually bring them greater pain than they could truly understand.

“Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him. I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 2:19, NLT)

Can’t receive correction? Then you won’t be able to see the very thing we SHOULD want most: 

To see ourselves and our situations as God does.

2. God Corrects Us Through Others, Out Of Love, To HELP Us.

Did God send them to hurt your feelings? Or was it to help you?

God directly tells us that it is stupid to hate correction (see Proverbs 12:1 NLT)

“So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you to help you.” (Deuteronomy 8:5 NLT96)*

Because the ability to receive correction in humility leads to promotion (see Proverbs 4:8, 10:17), the shrewd will look for it.

Have you considered that God is TRYING to correct you through some of the key relationships in your life?

Often, the Master uses people who love us as His agents of correction. 

Think of the mercy it was for the Lord to send Jethro to Moses instead of some adversary (see Exodus 18).  God could have humbled David through an enemy nation, but He mercifully chose to use Nathan, his friend (2 Samuel 12).

In the same way, whether it is through a boss, a loved one, the Scriptures, or even a rival, we should embrace – and even ask – for God’s gentle corrections.

Instead of fearing that they’ll BE corrected, the truly wise fear that they WON’T be!

Thankfully, Jesus can empower us to receive correction patiently, openly and graciously. 

And He can forgive our sins and redeem our mistakes – even the ones we were slow to consider.

Father,

You love a broken and contrite heart. In the station You’ve given me, You desire truth in my innermost parts, even if that means awakening me to some of my weaknesses.  Please make me increasingly approachable about my shadows, blind spots, and foibles.  Help me to progress faster, make better decisions, and avoid unnecessary mistake through the counsel and feedback of others.  I trust that You are trying to help me.

Amen.

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*NLT96 is unavailable online, so this has been linked to NLT2015.

Posted on October 3, 2018