“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” – Num. 11:1
We may mourn but we must not murmur. Yet this is one of the most common areas of failure among men. I suspect we all could improve in this area. It seems that most people would rather mention their miseries than their mercies. Their focus is on their grief rather than God’s grace. They give more thought to their burdens than they do to their blessings. Pouting about your problems is bad enough, declaring your displeasure is worse. It is nothing short of sinful pride that causes us to seek attention by complaining about our lot in life. The quickest way to make a bad situation worse is to complain about it. Trials are meant to make us better, not bitter. Were we wise we would understand that what God allows to happen to us is actually for us. No, I don’t understand it either, but I know it’s true.
We would do well to consider what Paul said in Phil. 2:14-15 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”. If we are to shine we must not whine. Complaining is unbecoming of the person who claims that their trust is in the Lord. He deserves better than that. Our response to our difficulties should be such that others can see that our faith is indeed in Christ, our belief that He can be trusted even in the worst of times. And it is the light of that testimony that draws others to an interest in Christ. That’s as it should be! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
