ANBLIK Weblog

Edwin Ogenio asks, have you ever run into fellow believers who almost immediately after telling them about your present situation, start lecturing or teaching you about what they think the Bible says about how or what you should do? In most occasions they tell you, or actually teach you in length, about things you already know, or situations you have already experienced. They will not ask you about your personal view or thoughts, or give you the chance to explain your opinion, since they are so busy lecturing you, and think they know how to give you all the right answers.

They seem to have an unquenchable need to speak about their concern for you that many times goes along with all sorts of critical admonishments and warnings concerning your situation. All you can do is humbly nod and patiently listen to what is being said, since there is no room for you to tell them that you already know and understand what they are lecturing you about, and that you already have taken care of it.

If you try hard enough to get a word in between, it usually ends up in some form of quarreling or uncomfortable confrontation. After it is all said and done, you are left behind with uneasiness and feeling that next time you would want to avoid a confrontation like this again. When you do try to avoid them the next time you meet, they do not understand why they are being rejected by you, and then they believe that it is because of their message, and that you may not have been receiving it.

Edwin Ogenio has experienced countless situations like this, most of the time coming from good caring Christians. Edwin Ogenio started asking himself: “why this is so frequently happening to me. Is it that God is trying to tell me something again, and that I need to listen, as the Bible says in Proverbs 15:31-32 and in chapter 16:20 NLT?”"If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.” “If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” “Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be happy.”