Ever since the devil deceived Eve and Adam, one of the easiest things to find around here is fault, and one of the easiest faults to fall into is griping and complaining. Bad-mouthing life’s troubles is a favorite pastime (and a waste of time, actually). Think of those hundreds of thousands of Israelites whom Moses led out of slavery from Egypt. They complained constantly about their hardships and the Lord heard their complaints. The Bible says, “the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and He sent fire to destroy some of the people” (Num. 11:1f). To God it’s a serious sin!
It sounds like they doubted their own ability to buck up and bear their burdens to gain the prize of a “land flowing with milk and honey.” Everyone may love a ‘nut’ and all the whole world love a ‘weirdo’, but no one cares for a whiny-baby ingrate! When I think of how negative that nation of God’s specially chosen people was, I’m reminded of that oft repeated remark: “Gripe, gripe, gripe!” and then comes these words from the “Song of Moses” – “And you are not really [God’s] children. You are completely unfaithful to Him. You are crooked liars. Is this the way you repay the Lord for all He’s done for you?” (Dt. 32:5-6).
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain…and most fools do. Indeed, we live in an imperfect, “crooked and depraved world.” So how can we help here?
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves…Do everything without complaining and arguing, so no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Phil. 2:14–15, NLT)
Stop, think back, and remember – “count your many blessings; count them one by one” – it’ll help you recall some wonderful things God has done. Gratitude doesn’t gripe.
-John Driggers (12/18/2023, V5 #51)
