Do All Things Without Complaining

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to fall into complaining? We all do it from time to time, but what does it really say about our hearts? We all know someone who often voices frustrations, and at times, we may even find ourselves doing the same. Often complainers like to point out that they are merely stating the obvious, that something is not being done right or could be done better. But what good comes from this? Not much.

Complaining Isn't Productive

Complainers really only have three choices. Accept things the way they are and try to think about the good that is around them. Change things, or change their relationship to them by removing themselves from the situation. Complaining is simply not productive.

The High Cost of Complaining

In Numbers 11:1 it is made quite clear what God thinks about complaining. Here we read that it displeased the Lord and even aroused His anger. Our example, of course, is the story of the Israelites wandering for forty years in the desert. Although they had seen the mighty hand of God at work in their deliverance from Pharaoh and slavery in Egypt, they complained. They complained about food and water. When God provided them manna from Heaven they complained because they had no meat. They complained about Moses' leadership. Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses' wife, Zipporah. None of those who complained were allowed to see the promised land. They paid a high price for their complaints.

God Is In Control

When we think about our complaints, we must ask ourselves: are we complaining about what God has done for us? After all, He is in control. So, you don't like your job, your spouse, the way people treat you, or your home? The list can go on and on. But ultimately, who do we have to thank that we have a job, a spouse, friends, a home and even our very life? God, of course.

Learning To Be Content

Paul tells us something very important in Philippians 4:11-13. He explains in these verses that he has learned under all circumstances to be content. Content people are not complaining people. Paul stayed content when most people would be bitterly complaining. Whether he had many needs or none, it was Christ who strengthened him.

Shifting Our Focus to Gratitude

When Paul was in jail with Silas in Acts 16, instead of complaining, what did he do? He sang praises to God. Our worldly self would think Paul very justified if he had complained. Certainly he did nothing to deserve jail, or beatings or the many other things he suffered. But Paul had the strength of Christ, as do we! God's grace strengthened him.

Paul repeats this idea in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, when he talks about the thorn in his flesh that was not removed. Paul says Jesus assured him that His grace was sufficient, that His strength was perfected in weakness. Because of this Paul declares that he will boast in his infirmities so that Christ's power will be with him. He will even boast in persecution and distress because Paul says his strength is found in weakness.

Once again, Paul could have easily succumbed to the temptation to complain. He asked God to remove this burden and it wasn't. God had a purpose for this "thorn in the flesh" it was to make Paul humble. Paul accepts this from God, knowing that his weakness reminds him his strength comes only from God.

Ways to Avoid Complaining

One way that we can decrease our own complaining is to keep a journal of the many ways we are blessed on a daily basis. Instead of writing about all the bad that happens, we can remind ourselves of the many good things that God gives us. Another way is to read the many passages in the Bible about encouragement like Isaiah 40, Romans 15:13, or John 16:33.

Remember that we are supposed to encourage each other in Christ. When people receive encouragement they feel more hope. This makes them less likely to focus on just the bad things that are happening to them. Let's try to be an encourager to others.

How many times have we seen people who have lost everything due to storms or fire or other tragedies, stand in the midst of what was once their home and thank God for saving their life and the lives of their family? In the midst of such loss many people don't complain. They see what is truly important.

Do All Things Without Complaining

In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul makes it abundantly clear that we should not complain.

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"

This is one way the world will know that we are children of God, our lack of complaining and arguing.

So the point is that even though we may feel justified in complaining, we are told not to. We have to realize that God is in control of our lives. When we feel the need to complain we need to pray. We need to thank God for what we have instead of what we don't have. We need to show God that we trust Him with our lives by not complaining.

Trusting God's Sovereignty

In Romans 8:28, Paul states that for those called according to God's purpose and who love Him, everything ultimately works for good. If we truly believe this verse then even when we face bad things, we know that God can work them out for good if we are called according to His purpose and if we love Him. It really all comes down to trust. How faithful and trustworthy do we believe God really is? How much we complain is an indicator of this.

Dear Father,

Forgive me for complaining. Forgive me for not trusting your faithfulness and Your love. Thank you for my blessings and help me everyday to see them and know that they are from you.

In your Son's name, Amen