About two years ago, I attended a ladies’ class taught by a lady that serves her state in a political capacity. She is an excellent speaker, and she knows how to get to the heart of the matter.
I don’t remember her topic, but about half way through her class she told us something that I wanted to immediately put into practice. I have to admit; I’m still working on it.
She said that she realized that she complained more than she knew she should; but, she said, I go on and on with my complaining. So she decided to limit her complaining. She allows herself ten minutes to grumble about whatever is bothering her. When her ten minutes are up, she stops!
I decided that was a wonderful idea, so I went home determined to do the same thing. She encouraged us to tell someone to whom we are close so they could hold us accountable. I did. I told my husband.
As I have studied this subject, I have realized that even that ten minutes is too much complaining.
In First Corinthians 10:1-5, Paul talks about the Israelites and how they were overthrown in the wilderness. They sinned in many ways, but one of their sins was their complaining.
Remember that God had delivered the Children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. They began complaining right after the celebration of their delivery in Exodus 15. They complained because the water in the wilderness of Shur was bitter (Exodus 15:22-23). They complained, Moses cried out to God, and God made the water sweet.
Next they travelled to the wilderness of Sin. Here they were hungry, and they complained that they would have been better off in Egypt.
Once again God provided for their needs. He sent quail and manna to feed the people (Exodus 16). Later, in Numbers 11, it says they complained about the manna.
In Exodus 32, we find Moses on Mount Sinai with God and the people at the foot of the mountain complaining that Moses is taking too long. They responded to Moses brother, Aaron, as he fashioned a golden calf from their jewelry. They actually gave this golden calf credit for bringing them out of Egypt!
In Numbers 21, the people once again complained that there was no bread or water. “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.’ Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died” (Numbers 21:5-6–ESV).
When they were punished for their complaining, the Israelites would repent and beg Moses to talk to God for them. That’s exactly what they did when they were bitten by the fiery serpents, and Moses did talk to God on their behalf.
There is a point to these examples. In our opening passage in First Corinthians 10, we find the reason we need to not be complainers. In verses 6-11, we find these statements:
• “These things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
• “Do not be idolaters as some of them were.”
• “We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did.”
• “We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did.”
• “Nor grumble, as some of them did.”
• “These things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction.”
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:14-15, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
Complaining is on the outside, but it is a result of what is on the inside. In the passage in First Corinthians 10, grumbling is placed in the list with idolatry and sexual immorality.
James makes similar statements in James 3:16. “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Let’s face it! We do complain. Complaining is a sin. It comes from within. How do we change it? Be like Jesus.
Sandra Oliver