Something is not right. No really, just listen. There are a lot of things wrong, and it doesn’t seem to matter who you talk to. Everyone has something to complain about.
For example:
- The food service worker – “This oven’s temperature is off.”
- The mailman – “Why do these people block their mailbox with their car.”
- The police officer – “More paperwork? Really?”
- The TSA worker – “If I have to tell them to take off their metal belts one more time.”
- The car wash attendant – “The sign does tell them to cover their windshield wipers! If I hear one more complaint about a broken wiper I am going to go nuts.”.
- The self-check-out worker at the grocery store – “I can see your screen says call the attendant for help. You don’t have to be so impatient.”
- The construction flagger – “I can see you. You will get your turn to pass. Stop giving me the evil eye. Don’t….don’t you go for that horn…”
- The lottery winner who no longer has to work – ……………..(Umm, I will get back to you on that one)
My point is that everyone has something to complain about, and it is so easy to do it. This is why what the Apostle Paul wrote flies in the face of so many of us:
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[a] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”- Philippians 2:12-16
Can I complain about Paul writing that? Probably not. I mean really Paul? Do everything without complaining? What fun is that? Who will feel sorry for me? How will my load get lightened? What about my gold-stars that people give me for “sticking in there when the going gets tough”. What about how gooooood it feels to just complain? Wait a minute Paul. If you are going to ask me to do everything without complaining, you better have a good and big reason! Oh, wait. Now I see it. That if I don’t complain, but do everything with an acceptance and dependence on God, I bring Him glory? That if I don’t complain, but just do what I need to, my life will stand out and God will be glorified? That living this way may draw people to Christ? That one of the ways I live out my identity as God’s child is to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus?
“Who being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:6-8
So Paul, the big carrot you are waving in front of me to not complain is, that by living humbly and quietly before others, I reflect Christ and exalt His name? Man, that is big! So then, it is not about me, but about Christ? Okay, I think I get it. But Paul, what you are calling me to do is not easy. It is against my nature. I have complained for so many years. How can you expect me to do this? Oh, right, we have received the Holy Spirit who can empower us to live this way. Alright! Alright! Alright Paul. You win! Your argument is too good. It’s not fair! (Oh, wait, I am complaining again….)
Well, here goes. I will try to not complain or grumble and I will depend on God to help me accomplish this. This too will bring Him glory.
For Him,
Rob