Few things are less agreeable than someone who is continually critical of others. Yet there are people whose greatest pleasure is mocking the efforts of others. You can find them holding court wherever they can find an audience. They will go to great lengths to laugh at what others are doing. No fault is too small to highlight. No shortcoming too minor to shout from the mountaintop.
To make matters worse, such people are often better at criticizing others than they are at performing superior work themselves. Scoffers are often driven by the misguided belief that by putting down others, they somehow lift themselves up in peoples’ eyes. If everyone else looks stupid, then they must appear brilliant.
But the fact is that scoffers leave a bad taste in peoples’ mouths. Criticism and mockery drain the soul. It quenches the spirit. It views life through a negative, dark lens. The only ones who enjoy listening to the constant banter of a scoffer are shallow, small people who delight in demeaning others. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into their huddle. Wise people avoid such gatherings and topics. If, however, you find yourself attracted to such bitter venting, beware. At first you may only be a passive member of the audience. But before long you will develop a scoffer’s heart as well. Watch out for scoffers, for their words are poison to your soul.