Complaining is one of the most
pervasive attitude problems in our
culture. Just open the newspaper to
the letters to the editor and read
complaint after complaint. Or hang
around the water cooler at work and
hear employees gripe about the boss’
latest “bad decision.” Or stand in
line at McDonald’s during the lunch
hour rush when every cashier seems
to be in training. And then there’s
the Internet, with tons of Web sites
that exist solely to provide an
online forum for complaining.
Now, let me be the first to say
that in certain situations I really
enjoy complaining. In fact, I like
it so much that I would never
consider eliminating it from my life
were it not for what I have learned
about how God hates it. That’s
right, He hates complaining. If you
find it hard to conceive that God
would “make such a big deal” about
your complaining, check out Numbers
11:1. Note Moses’ journal entry
from one day in the wilderness with
the people of Israel:
Now the people became like
those who complain of adversity in
the hearing of the LORD; and when
the LORD heard it, His anger was
kindled, and the fire of the LORD
burned among them and consumed some
of the outskirts of the camp.
Here’s this group of people
standing on the edge of their
makeshift city, and they are whining
and grumbling about something.
Whatever the subject matter, it was
the final straw for God, and He sent
fire among the whole group. If that
doesn’t tell you how God feels about
complaining, nothing will! And
before you try to dismiss that as
“Old Testament,” remember that what
happened to the Israelites was
intended by almighty, unchanging God
as an example for us (1 Corinthians
10:11).
So, is this a message you need
to hear? Ask yourself, “Am I a
complainer? Is this a problem in my
life?” Be brutally honest with
yourself. After all, God hears
every word you say and knows every
thought you think. You may be
fooling yourself, but you aren’t
fooling Him.
If complaining is rearing its
ugly head in your life, acknowledge
its wickedness and ask God to change
your attitude. The good news is that
the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ provided a way for us to be
forgiven and cleansed, and to have a
fresh start in life and in our
attitudes. We need only repent —
agree with God that our complaints
are sin — and choose to turn from
complaining and ask His
forgiveness. Do it today, loved
one. Put off complaining and begin
to put on the life-giving,
joy-producing attitude of
gratitude. Your life will never be
the same again!
