I had to get my atlas out last night to make sure I wasn’t lost. It seemed like whether I was listening to my radio, watching TV, or reading the newspaper, people were whining: “I deserve this,” or “I didn’t deserve that!” I thought I had been mysteriously transported to Whinersville.
Whining, mumbling, and grumbling is a worldwide problem of epidemic proportions. Europe, South America, Asia, Canada, and the good old USA are afflicted with this debilitating attitude.
This must be a centuries old problem because both Peter and Paul said people should be careful about the expression of their attitude:
- Peter said we should, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (I Peter 4:9).”
- Paul said to, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation (Philippians 2:14-15).”
Before you complain to God, and say: “This is something I don’t deserve.” Think about it. Do you really want Him to serve you a plateful of what you deserve? When God fills my plate, I’m like a child: I want a tiny portion of the Brussel sprouts of His judgment and heaping-helpings of His mercy-filled dips of mashed taters and cream gravy. I never want what I deserve—the wilting heat of His anger. I’d much rather bask in the Son-shine of His forgiveness.
Like David, we can find comfort in the loving nature of God and shout: “Lord, You are good and ready to forgive; and, Your abundant loyal love flows generously over all who cry out to You . . . guide me along Your path, so that I will live in Your truth (Psalm 86:10-11).” Even whiners grow mute and their grumbles are silenced when they turn their thoughts to God’s “abundant loyal love.”
insightbyseymour 