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"God
does not require good people in order to do good
work. As one medieval saying has it, God draws
straight lines with a crooked stick."
(Eugene
Peterson, Christ Plays in
History)
I Don't Like It
Complaining
is a national (perhaps international)
past-time.Not
that it's a new
development.
People
of all cultures throughout the ages have found
reason to murmur and grumble. The Hebrews
completely forgot the hardship of slavery and
longed to return to Egypt for leeks, onions, and
garlic - just what we all want for dinner
tonight (Numbers 11.5). Jonah the prophet was
unhappy that God's way was not his way. He
asked to die (Jonah 4.3, 8). That's a major
complaint. The disciples got bent out of shape
when James' and John's mommy got to Jesus first
and asked for special favors for her boys (Mark
10.41). And so it continues.
Murmur,
complaint, and criticism have a rich history -
long before we started to perfect them in our own
lives.
In
the workplace we cosnattly find fault with
workmates, bosses, and conditions.
Everyone's too demanding; people don't listen;
we're not appreciated; yada, yada,
yada.
In
the marketplace we grizzle about service (or lack
thereof) and poor products. It's not like the
old days when people took pride in their work and
products were made to last; yada, yada,
yada.
Our
marriages underperform our expectations
and our children underachieve their
potential. School teachers don't do enough to
motivate our kids. Pastors don't preach well.
Leaders are incompetent. Churches are unfriendly.
Neighbors don't extend themselves; yada, yada,
yada.
Even
the weather is usually too hot, or too cold, or
too wet, or too something.
And
so the gripe list
continues.
We
all like to talk about our problems more than His
provision. We see difficulties rather than
opportunities. And we devote ourselves more to a
critical spirit than to a constructive
one.
Never
mind the psychology that lies behind it, or the
excuses we want to create for it. Our whining and
whinging does little to honor Christ. Amidst
our abundance, how can we demand more -
essentially, "grumbling against God" (Exodus
16.8)? "In everything give thanks, for this is
God's will for you which He made possible through
Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5.18). Yes,
the death of Christ - properly understood -
makes every inconvenience and every
irritation turn
pale.
This
Thanksgiving, while we feast on turkey (those poor
birds are entitled to feel aggrieved at this
time of year), perhaps we might fast from
complaining ... and find ourselves
delightfully in the middle of His
will.
In HOPE
-
David
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