Complaining

Based on notes from Leadership Meeting this morning:

Philippians 2:14 - Do everything without complaining or arguing

Whether you are at work, at home, or serving at church, you will always see some things that you don’t like.  After all, no church, home, or workplace is perfect.  Maybe there is a program going on at your church that you think could be better.  Or maybe your boss at work makes a decision that you don’t agree with.  What should you do?  Well most people just complain.  Complaining can be defined as “expressing grief, pain, or discontent because of a situation.”

I understand that complaining feels natural.  But the scripture says that we should do all things with out arguing and complaining.  Why?

Facts About Complaining:

1. Form of disloyalty. – So let’s say that your boss does something that you don’t agree with.  But instead of talking to him privately after work, you complain about him to your coworkers in the parking lot.  That’s pretty disloyal if you think about it.  That’s the person who hired you and signs your paychecks.  Plus, we are expected by God to respect those in leadership over us (Eph 6:5-6).  It’s the same concept in the home.  Husbands and wives complaining about each other to their friends??  Where’s the loyalty?
2. Leads to Disunity. – Complaining sows seeds of discord…bottom line.  So you’re at church complaining about someone to your friends…you’ve just opened the door for your friends to dislike who you are talking about.  You didn’t do it on purpose, but that’s not the point.  Complaining breaks up unity..because people start taking sides.  Don’t sow discord…it’s serious business (Prov 6:16-19).
3. Hinders Progress. – Neither you nor what you are complaining about will benefit from your complaining.  Someone smarter than me said “If you complain, expect to remain.“  In other words, you will never change a situation by complaining about it.  And your personal progress WILL be hindered because you are a complainer.  Read Exodus & Numbers and see where the children of Israel’s murmuring and complaining got them.

To the flesh, complaining feels so natural.  But in the Kingdom of God, it’s abnormal.  Complaining is NOT how we bring about positive change.  There will be some things that you don’t like about what you are involved in.  But that’s ok!  You don’t have to agree with everything at work to be a good employee.  You don’t have to like everything at your church to serve faithfully.  Refuse to complain.  Instead, address the issue with the leadership in place with love.  That’s how things change for the better!  God Bless!

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