COMPLAINING

 Complaining

It is in the fallen human nature to complain. Many people are always complaining about something. Anything can become a subject of complaints; the weather, ourselves, other people, our circumstances, other people's circumstances, the world events, and much more. But what leads to complaining? A discontent heart; a heart that is not right with God. With time we realize that there is a difference between complaining and putting a point forward. There is a difference between giving an opinion and complaining. With complaining we are blaming everything and everyone else but ourselves.

Yes, we should rise up against any form of injustice or immoral conducts, but what is the condition of our hearts when we are doing or saying something. What do we want to achieve when we say something? Why do we say or do what we do? Complaining comes from a point of weakness or fear. Do we go telling everyone and anyone our problems? How do we say what we say? Does it come from a prideful and bitter heart?

The Bible warns against complaining.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure. Do everything without complaining or arguing. So that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as the light of the world. Philippians 2:13-15.

Complaining, just like gossip, is infectious. When one person starts complaining, it is like a wildfire, it becomes difficult to quench.

But what if we stop complaining and address the issue, do something about it, tell the person they did wrong, address the right people and in the proper manner? What if we stopped talking behind each other's back and tell it to the person concerned? There is strength in addressing the right people; most of the time we tell the wrong people, who then go telling everyone else and it becomes a cycle.

If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. Matthew 18:16.

The first step is to address the person concerned.

The big question usually is; why are we doing what we are doing? Are we doing it to please other people even if what we are doing is wrong? Are we doing something just to hurt the other person? Are we doing or saying something just to make a person look bad in-front of other people? We are told to do everything in love; love covers.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so you can pray. Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. 1 Peter 4:7-9.

What if we address the right people or authorities? What if we pray for one another? What a big difference it would make!

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found. But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand. Proverbs 10:11-14.

The Israelites were always complaining. God provided for them in supernatural ways but they were always discontent.

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, 'If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna! Numbers 11:4-6.

Then the Lord told Moses and Aaron, 'How long will this wicked assembly keep complaining about me? I've heard the complaints of the Israelis that they've been murmuring against Me. So tell them that as long as I live - consider this to be an oracle from the Lord - as certainly as you've spoken right into My ears, that's how I'm going to treat you. Your corpses will fall  in this wilderness- every single one of you who has been counted among you, according to your number from 20 years and above, who complained against me. You will certainly never enter the land about which I made an oath with My uplifted hand to settle you in it, except for Jephunneh's son Caleb and Nun's son Joshua. Numbers 14:26-30.

Let us pray for wisdom. Before we say or do anything, let us pray for God's guidance. Not everything needs to be said and we don't have to listen to everything people are saying. We have to guard ourselves.

But understand this, that in the last days there will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeaseable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2  Timothy 3:1-5.

When we complain, we sow a bad seed. Yet we forget we reap what we sow. Let us sow good, for in due time we will get bountiful harvest. Let us pray for contentment even in the midst of life's storms. Let us use our tongues wisely. Let us guard our hearts at all times.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into the temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. So people, eager for money, have wandered from faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:6-12.

Blessings.

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