Stop complaining!

Scripture:

Philippians 2:14-15 (AMP) Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], (15) That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world,

Phillippians 2:14-15 (NIV) Do everything without complaining or arguing, (15) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Observation:

Why are complaining and arguing so harmful? If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Christ and the Good News. Belief in Christ should unite those who trust him. If your church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Stop arguing with other Christians or complaining about people and conditions within the church; instead, let the world see Christ.

Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will "shine brightly" in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God's Word. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by complaining and arguing? Don't let dissensions snuff out your light. Shine out for God. Your role is to shine until Jesus returns and bathes the world in his radiant glory.

Application:

We don't realize that when we complain, we are saying that God isn't caring for us like He should. We rob Him of the praise and Thanksgiving that He so deserves.

• We complain about the price of groceries instead of offering Him thanks that we can afford to buy food.
  
• We complain about our spiritual struggles instead of offering Him thanks that Jesus died on the cross for my salvation.
  
• We complain about the price of gasoline instead of offering Him thanks that we have a vehicle.
  
• We complain about how messy our families are instead of offering Him thanks that we have a family.
  
• We complain about how much our kids fight instead of offering Him thanks for our children.
  
• We complain about our country instead of offering Him thanks that we live in the greatest nation in the world.
  
• We complain about our spouse instead of offering Him thanks that we are married.
  
• We complain that we don't feel very well instead of offering Him thanks that we are alive.
  
• We complain that we don't make enough money instead of offering Him thanks that we have more wealth that a large percentage of the world
  
• We complain about the traffic jam on the interstate instead of offering Him thanks that we are not causing the jam due to car problems or an accident.
  
• We complain about the music of our church instead of offering Him thanks that we have the right and freedom to worship God in our church
  
• We complain about the problems that have to be fixed in our house instead of offering Him thanks for our house.
  
• We complain about how busy we are today instead of offering Him thanks for this day
  

I could go on and on. I (we) can very easily become a complainer. That is why my theme verse is Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." I have to remind myself often that I choose to be full of thanksgiving and not complaining… TODAY. I have to take one day at a time. I often teach on how we need to enjoy each season of our lives. Well, I actually believe that we need to enjoy each minute of each day, or each season of our lives. How do we do that? Develop an attitude of gratitude.

Listen to what Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12:

Philippians 4:11-12 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. (12) I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.

He says, "I have learned to be content in every circumstance." Being content is something you have to learn. You learn it through your daily choices. You will never be content as long as you make the choice of complaining! However, when you strive to give thanks daily, you will slowly but surely become content, regardless what comes along in your life.

I love the CONTENTS of my life (Salvation, family, home, vehicles, etc), but I will never be CONTENT in my life until I daily choose to give God thanks before I bring my needs or complaints before Him. It is the absolute least that I can do for a God who has blessed me abundantly.

Prayer:

"Lord, help me to enjoy the CONTENTS of my life by learning to be CONTENT in my life. I become content by becoming a daily, habitual thanks giver! Please forgive me for the times I have argued and complained. I choose to make grateful decisions today. In Jesus name, amen"