A Destructive Evil
For some people, complaining seems to be a popular pastime. They reach the peak of satisfaction when they are complaining. Couples get together for an evening of fellowship and, the first thing you know, someone is complaining about someone or something. Employees complain about the company for which they work. Students complain about teachers and workloads. Complaining seems to be normal procedure these days.
Consider three things about complaining:
Complaining displeases God. 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 (Numbers 11:1).
Complaining disputes God. Who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? (Romans 9:20).
Complaining dishonors God. 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 (Philippians 2:14-15).
God’s people should not be complainers because complaining displeases, disputes, and dishonors God.
Complaining was probably one of the worst sins committed by Israel, the chosen people of God. It was for this reason that thousands of them were not permitted to enter the Promised Land. We need to take special note of this because Romans 15:4 says, Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning. Let’s learn the lesson and let’s do something about it.
Praise is the best deterrent I know for complaining. Believers who keep praising the Lord usually achieve the victory over complaining. God says in Psalm 50:23, Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me. Praising God and His people is far more worthwhile than complaining.
The following letter from a concerned missionary, serving the Lord in Indonesia, strikes at the core of the problem.
“Today, I visited an Indonesian friend’s home. The house was made of bamboo and grass. It was about the size of a one-car garage, and housed six people, including four children. The smallest child was crying because his bowl of rice had fallen on to the dirt floor. Quickly he began to stuff handfuls of rice and dirt into his mouth. Worms enlarged his belly. It was not a pretty sight. As I looked around the house, I wondered how the father did so well with a monthly income of about $13.75. And then I thought of what is called poverty in America. My friend had recently become a Christian. In an attempt to reach his wife, I thought of taking an Indonesian Bible. But I found that they could not read. Like so many Indonesians, they hadn’t had the opportunity to attend school. And then I thought of what is called illiteracy in America. Last week, I wanted to mail a package to America. I learned that I must receiv e permission from the head office, reduce the weight by one pound, pay three times the U.S. cost of mailing, and take the chance that the package would never be delivered. I decided not to mail my Mother’s Day gift. And then I thought of the postal service in America. My Indonesian language teacher told me of a friend who went to America to get his college education. He had to leave two of his four children behind. And then I thought of the dissatisfied college students in America. One does not live here long before he learns that the government owns the railroad, the airlines, hotels, the gas stations, the newspapers, the universities, and most of the factories. And then I thought of the freedom in America. We hear on short-wave radio that many people are dissatisfied with America. I guess it is easy to find fault, but I wonder what standard of measurement they are using?”
What standard of measurement are we using as we complain? Is it perfection we want? If so, we should begin with ourselves because we have many faults of our own that need correcting.
Actually, if anyone had a right to complain, it was the Lord Jesus Christ. Our sinless Lord was falsely accused, brutally assaulted, cruelly tortured, and shamefully handled. Yet, He never complained. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7).
In the light of our Lord’s example, some of us ought to hide our faces in shame. We mutter about the noise our children make, instead of thanking God that they are normal. We complain because our house is old, when many people have no house. We grumble because we have to work so hard, when thousands wish, above all else, that they could work. We murmur because we cannot get a new car, while millions of people don’t have enough food to eat. We wonder about the coldness of our church, while never doing anything to warm it up. We lament the conditions of the world, while giving a mere pittance to missions.
What should we do with our complaints? Do as the psalmist. I poured out my complaint before [God];I showed before Him my trouble (Psalm 142:2). If we have any complaining to do, let’s take it to the Lord, not to people. Commit the complaint to the Lord. In His own way He will care for it.
Maybe you are of a complaining spirit because you need the Lord. He could change your life and deliver you from complaining. Trust Him and see.
J. Allen Blair
Living Patiently
Does this describe your life - Living Patiently? If not, you may find just the help you need in Dr. Blair's book on Job, Living Patiently. This month we complete the radio series on Job and are offering the book, Living Patiently, for a special price of $10.00 (includes NC tax and postage).
Get an in-depth study in the life of Job and learn how he coped with unimaginable hardship.Order Dr. Blair's book, Living Patiently.
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What is Love?
Pastor Geoffrey Janes
In a world where definitions seem to conveniently change as needed, it is difficult to understand what some words really mean. Love is one of the most misunderstood words in our world today. Everybody wants to be loved. Everybody needs to be loved. But what is love?
The First Epistle of John tells us that love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7). John explains that God showed his love to us by sending his only son Jesus Christ to die in our place. He took the penalty of our sin upon himself, so that we could experience life through Him. Back in the Gospel of John, Jesus said to his disciples, Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (1 John 15:13). And that is exactly what Jesus did for us, He laid down His life for us.
The next thing we see in 1 John 4 is that since God loved us, we should love one another. And that is where we need to apply the biblical definition of love. Love is not sex. Love is not candy. Love is not an emotional feeling that we have. Love is self-sacrifice, the giving of myself for the betterment of another person. Do you love God? Then love others. Since God does love you, then you are to love others.
1 John 4:20 says that if we claim to love God and our actions or attitude show hate for another person, then we are liars. One cannot love God and hate people. God loves people. We love God. Therefore, we must love other people with the same self-sacrificing love which Christ shows towards each one of us.
WHY MUST I SUFFER SO?
That's the message of the month for this month. Get in touch for a free printed copy.
92 years and counting!
By God's grace, Dr. and Mrs. Blair are celebrating 92 years of life! We praise the Lord for His blessings to them.
Happy 92nd Birthday to Dr. and Mrs. Blair