Think back earlier today; did anything happen that you weren't happy
about? Did you make it to the crosswalk on campus right as the time was
up? Did you approach a parking spot to find out it was taken by a
motorcycle? Did you show up to an 8 am class to find out it had been
cancelled?
How did you respond? What did you say?
Let's take a look at Philippians 2:14-15.
"14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may
become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped
and crooked generation.”
Complaining amplifies frustration, it spreads discontent and discord.
God detests things such as this (look at Proverbs 6:16-19 for the seven
things he detests.)
If we spend our time complaining, who will want to take the time to listen to what we Christians have to say seriously?
Now look at Exodus 16:8 and Psalm 106:24-26.
"8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives
you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the
morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we?
You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”
"24 Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his
promise. 25 They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. 26
So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in
the wilderness."
If you look back in the Old Testament and how God dealt with the
Children of Israel, we discover that the Lord always considered their
complaints as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. They complained
about their circumstances, the types of food they were eating, and even
Moses. God was displeased because they weren't thankful for what He had provided them. (i.e., freedom from slavery, daily mannah, and a leader.)
Check out Thessalonians 5:18.
"18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
WE are supposed to be thankful for what God has provided us with as well as the things He withholds from us.
Now check out Numbers 14:2-3, 27-29
"2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the
whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this
wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us
fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder.
Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”
"27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have
heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As
surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I
heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of
you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has
grumbled against me."
Looking at this, you can see that the Lord allowed the Destroyer (satan) to answer the complaints with the very destruction that they confessed and predicted.
Complaining is an expression of discontent. If we are "content" in Jesus as Paul said we should be, (Phil. 4:11) we won't have anything to complain about.
Matthew 12:36-37
"36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day
of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words
you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
How important it is that believers guard the words of their mouth!
The scriptures tell us that our words are literally the basis for
whether we are justified or condemned. Realizing this, we should
eradicate negative words, griping, or grumbling, and fill our mouth with
praise and thanksgiving!
So how do we avoid the sinful trait known as complaining? Look at Philippians 4:8.
"8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things."
If you spend your time dwelling on the things mentioned in the verse
above, you won't have to worry about falling subject to complaining.
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