3/3/2021 – Pastor Brian’s Blog –
Do you know anyone like this? People who might have “complained in the hearing of the Lord?”
If you hang out with some Christians, that is exactly what you will hear. There is some incorrect thinking going on in the church today. Incorrect thinking that indicates we think we have the right to complain about God and further incorrect thinking, assuming that He doesn’t care.
Yet listen to what happened when the Israelites complained about God…
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them His anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
Numbers 11:1
One of the chief problems with the children of Israel while in the wilderness, was that they had the propensity to complain. They complained about Moses, they complained about Aaron, they complained to God and wanted to go back to Egypt. They complained about the food, they complained about the heat, no matter what God did, over time, they would end up complaining about it. The people complained, and God, well, when He heard their continual complaining, His anger aroused. In other words God was upset!
Often we think, our complaining is different. Really?
God says… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
We say… “God you have to be kidding me! I am not doing that! Did you forget how much they hurt me?” If that is our response, don’t you think that’s an affront to God?
God said… Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (Romans 13:2)
I think… I should continue to complain about my president, my pastor, my boss, those authorities that God has established in my life and therefore I must also think that God will not view it as a slap in the face.
God promised… And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
However we continue to complain to anyone that will listen when life gets tough or we are not happy with what God has allowed in our life. Perhaps we continually tell God to change our circumstances. We must also be thinking, the whole time, that our complaining is tolerable and acceptable, while the Israelites’ complaining was not.
If you find yourself with a complaining spirit, there are three things you should know about your complaining…
- Complaining is a reflection of your heart
When Christians complain, it is not a reflection of who God is, it is a reflection on us… For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)
2. Complaining is an insult to God’s sovereignty
When we complain, we are actuality telling God that we think that our way is better than His. We are essentially telling God, because You have not met my expectations, You need to change things right now!
- Complaining will end up hurting you
When we have a complaining heart, we are choosing a response that never leads to anything good. It may bring relief to our sinful heart temporarily, but if we continue on that path, it will lead us down the path of anger, bitterness and even depression. It can also cost you Godly fellowship with other believers. Usually, only people with hearts that are also out of tune with God are the ones that want to hang out with someone that has an ungrateful and complaining spirit.
Changing our incorrect thinking from ‘complaining about God’ to ‘trusting God,’ is not that big a jump. If we will choose to change our hearts from being a complaining heart to becoming a trusting heart, it can change everything…
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
Replace complaining with trusting. Trust God, because He wants to keep us out of that dangerous wilderness of complaining!
