Reviews. We see them everywhere and on anything. They help make decisions about products or services. They have become very valuable, especially in the world of online shopping, when we can’t touch, handle, or see the product or place firsthand.

These star reviews or individual critiques tell us what someone liked or didn’t like. I, personally, read reviews, but I have only left very few: some for likes and one for a dislike. The one negative review I left was simply to let a company know about an off product.

One thing about reviews that people forget is that, outside of visible or physical damage of a product or from a service, the review is based solely on one’s opinion. What they write is their personal commentary. Where one may give five stars, another may only give one because it was not to their taste or a good product, in their opinion.

But I find in life we “review” people in the same way. We have our opinions of a person based on what we perceive to be right or wrong, favorable or not. And often, when we share our review with others, it tends to be geared more toward the negative than the positive.

Paul teaches in Titus 3:2, “To speak evil of no man…”

How well do we practice that? Or do we have select preferences of persons we believe are deserving to receive a less-than-favorable review from us?

We do not need to fan the flames of negativity over another’s life, regardless of how we view them. The Bible tells us, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Our “review” of a person should not become the constant topic of conversation, especially if it is promoting negativity.

James agrees, saying, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity…” (James 3:5, 6a). 

As Christians, we have experienced the gift of grace in our lives beyond the measure of our understanding. God is the one who changed us, cleaned us, saved us, and gave us a new life. Something none of us deserved, and nothing we can boast of (Ephesians 2:8,9). How we view others should be nothing short of that same grace received.

Our minds and our mouths can be trained in how we view or respond to people. As water drops that flow from your roof, wherever they land, that’s where they will pool and cut a path through your yard. The same is true for both negative and positive views. The one you lean toward the most is cutting a pathway in your thinking and speech.

Our negative reviews are not helpful to us or needed by others. May the story of our redemption (Titus 3:3-5) help us to extend grace to others right where they are.

While reviews can range from agreeable to disagreeable, may our speech always be agreeably grace-filled.

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

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