“We are born crying, live complaining, and die disappointed” (Thomas Fuller). That was almost too depressing to type!! I refuse to live that way! I suppose I was born crying, but I definitely do not have to live complaining or die disappointed! The choice is mine. When reading Thanksgiving books to my students, I usually throw in a little character lesson about complaining. I tell them the “opposite” of being thankful is being a complainer! We can be thankful for our schools, our jobs, our clothes, our food…. or complain about them. It’s a “natural” habit (of our flesh!) to get caught up in. We all have trivial frustrations as well as more serious issues to face. We vent to one another at times and feel release and even connection through that; I get it! Of course, what we need to know and heed is what the Word says about complaining.
In Awe of God John Bevere pointed out that complaining was one of the five sins that prevented the children of Israel from seeing the Promised Land! This is something we cannot ignore. As difficult as it may seem to own, complaining is sin. I Corinthians 10:1-11 AMP (emphasis with bold and underline is mine) says:
FOR I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God’s Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea, [Exod. 13:21; 14:22, 29.] And each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God]; And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food, [Exod. 16:4, 35.] And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ. [Exod. 17:6; Num. 20:11.]
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. [Num. 14:29, 30.] Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did. [Num. 11:4, 34.] Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb] and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity). [Exod. 32:4, 6.] We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did–and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day! [Num. 25:1-18.] We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did–and were killed by poisonous serpents; [Num. 21:5, 6.] Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did–and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death). [Num. 16:41, 49.] Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).”
Wow. Do we take complaining too lightly? I fear that I do. Bevere goes on to describe the Lord’s words to him concerning the presence of rebellion and the lack of holy fear that are displayed when he complains. When complaining, are we practically saying to the Maker of the Universe, “We don’t like the way you are doing things.” Oh, mercy! In Deuteronomy 28, we find a chapter full of causes and their effects- blessings or cursings. Verses 47-48 state:
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you],Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things; and He will put a yoke of iron upon your neck until He has destroyed you.
None of us want those results! We need to change the narratives of our lives to stories of gratitude. What abundance He has given us, so much to be joyful about. Deuteronomy 28 tells us if we obey the commands of the Lord, we will be blessed coming in and going out, and we are certainly commanded to always be thankful!
So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] [c]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless . . .
“It is always possible to be thankful
for what is given rather than to complain
about what is not given.
One or the other becomes a habit of life.”
-Elisabeth Elliott
Can we, through the blood of Jesus and power of the Holy Spirit, stop the murmuring, change our habits, as Elisabeth Elliott so aptly stated? Yes! He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)! Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt and convict concerning your words and attitudes. Replace those with thanks! Let us ponder these scriptures, renew our minds, and be changed for the glory of God.
- Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”.
- Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”.
- Psalm 107:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever”.
- Psalm 92:1: “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High”.
Psalm 95:1-2: “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.
Devotional by Heather Cornett
