We all know them…..people who can always find something to complain about, who are never happy no matter the circumstances…..when it’s raining, they complain because the sun isn’t shining; when the sun is shining, they complain that it’s too hot; and so on. These are people who infect all around them with the cancer of their discontentment and suck the life out of everyone and everything. Sad thing is, sometimes these are the same people who claim to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, to quote a good King James expression, these things ought not so to be!
However, this is also not something new to our generation of believers. It’s a temptation God’s people have been yielding to since the days of the OT (despite God just having recently delivered them from Egyptian slavery). Here are a few examples: Exodus 16 – they complain b/c they are hungry
Exodus 17 – they complain b/c they are thirsty
Number 11 – they complain about their “hardships”
Numbers 14 – they complain b/c the people living in the land of Canaan appear to be too big and powerful for them to defeat
Numbers 16,17 – they grumble against the leadership of Moses and Aaron
How does God respond to their whining? In some instances He provides them with what they were lacking and complaining about, food & water. He makes clear, however, that He is not pleased with their grumbling. In other instances, He brings judgment in various forms: fire from heaven that consumes part of the camp; a declaration that only two men from their generation will live to see the Promised Land, while the rest will die wandering in the wilderness; fire from heaven that consumes 250 men who challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron; a plague that kills 14,700 who opposed the leaders God had placed over them.
Many would take issue with what seems to be overly harsh reactions on the part of God, but let’s consider some truths that may help to bring a better perspective: Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s wisdom – it is a failure to recognize that every step of a believer’s life is ordered by God; it says, in effect, that we are not so sure if God knows what He is doing
Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s power – we become fearful that God is not going to be able to rescue us this time and doubt begins to crowd out faith Complaining demonstrates a lack of trust in God’s goodness – while we may not say it out loud, we begin to question God’s love for us and whether or not our Father really has our best interests at heart
Paul, in the book of Philippians, exhorts believers to “do everything without complaining” and states that doing so is a sign of spiritual purity and maturity (“so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault”). He understood that such an attitude would also have a huge impact on our witness. Why should somebody else want something that can’t bring us joy or contentment? They can lack those things without a relationship with Christ!
And lest you be tempted to think that Paul must have lived a charmed life and can’t relate to the “hardships” that you have to endure on a daily basis, read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30 where he speaks of prison terms, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, sleeplessness, hunger and so on. And yet Paul states in verse 30 of that passage that he will “boast of the things that show my weakness.” Notice, Paul didn’t say “complain”, he said “boast”. How different is that from the way we want to respond when faced with negative circumstances?
So what was Paul’s secret? What’s ours? How do we come to the place where we can meet the challenge of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances”? Truth is, there is no “secret”…because Paul has already given us the strategy that he relied on:Rest in the assurance that God will supply all your needs (not wants!) (Philippians 4:19) – trust His goodness!
Rely on the strength that Christ brings (Philippians 4:13) – trust His power! (see also 2 Cor. 12:10)
Realign your thinking with His through prayer (1 Thess. 5:17 – notice this come right before Paul’s command to give thanks in everything) - trust His wisdom!Next time you’re tempted to throw yourself a pity party, to have a whinefest, just remember….others are listening. Are they going to want what you have based on what they’re hearing?
God, help us to “shine like stars” and “hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:15,16) as we keep our eyes fixed on You and Your promises (even when we think we have something to complain about), because that is what those around us really need!
Clark Hausman
Clark is the pastor of Moyock Assembly of God.
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