I Won’t Complain

Scripture:  Philippians 2:14 – Do all things without grumbling or questioning.  I Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all things; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  I Timothy 6:6-8 – 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.  

We basically all have many things to do on a daily basis, and sometimes we can get stressed out or we may feel overwhelmed.  There are times when we complain or grumble to people around us.  Do you ever complain when things don’t turn out the way you thought or hoped they would?  Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  A lot of times we complain when we don’t trust God with our circumstances.  We don’t trust that He is working all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).  Instead of complaining and arguing all of the time, we should talk to the Lord about our burdens/complaints (as it says in Psalms 64:1-10) – trusting that the Lord will help us.

Several scriptures come to mind about complaining.  Philippians 2:14 says “Do all things without grumbling or questioning.”  There will be times when we feel discouraged, disappointed, angry, or sad, but we have to learn to respond on the truth of God’s word and not allow our feelings/emotions to rule/lead us.  Is it going to aways be easy to not complain? No!  It can be very difficult at times.  Life is hard/challenging sometimes. With the Lord’s help, we can have victory over complaining in life’s situations.  I Thessalonians 5:18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  This scripture doesn’t say give thanks for all things but in all things.  John 8:31-32 says “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and truth will set you free.”  The truth sets us free from being in bondage of sin and helps us to grow in Christ.  

Complaining is a sin.  When we complain we are living in the flesh.  Complaining is all about “me” and what I want or think I should have.  Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  If we keep our eyes stayed on the Lord and not on our circumstances, we can live a life of peace as we continually trust the Lord (Isaiah 26:3-4).  “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children”(Ephesians 5:1).  We, therefore, demonstrate the character of our Heavenly Father when we live without complaining or arguing!  

Does how you respond to situations draw people to Christ or push people away?  Christ said we either gather or scatter (Matthew 12:30).  We should choose to not complain and argue so that people in our sphere of life may know Christ!  The more time we spend with the Lord in prayer, reading/studying His word, confessing our sins, and helping/serving others, the less complaining we will do.  

I love the song entitled “I Won’t Complain” by Paul Jones as follows:

I’ve had some good days.  I’ve had some hills to climb.  I’ve had some weary days, and some sleepless nights.  But when I look around, and I think things over.  All of my good days outweigh my bad days.  I won’t complain.  

Sometimes the clouds hang low.  I can hardly see the road.  I ask a question  --  Lord why so much pain?  But he knows what’s best for me.  Although my weary eyes they can’t see.  So I’ll just say thank You Lord.  I won’t complain.

God has been so good to me.  He’s been good to me.  More than this old world or you could ever be.  He been so good to me.  He dried all of my tears away.  Turned my midnights into day. So I’ll just say thank You Lord.  I won’t complain!

Complaining and arguing not only affects us and others around us, but it also ruins our joy and contentment.  Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! Ephesians 4:29-30 says  “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”  As Christians we shouldn’t want to do anything that grieves the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Thank You for saving us, and promising that You will always be with us.  Help us not to complain or argue, murmur/grumble with people around us, but help us to respond to what we  go through in a way that glorifies You. Help us to tell You about our complaints.  Help us to trust that You are working all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen

(by Marsha Williams)