Complaints and grumbles

Recently, as I've been reading through Numbers, I've felt highly convicted. You see I can probably complain with the best of them. "My fries are too soggy, my house is too small, my son won't sleep, I didn't get to watch the highlights of the Packers because I had to watch Thomas the Train." Despite how wonderful my life is, I've noticed that I spend a great deal of time complaining (Its pathetic when you think how great my life really is).

As I read in Numbers the other day I came to the realization that if I am serious when I say, "complaining is a sin," and I am, then I must repent and seek the Lord's work in that area of my life. What got me to wake up and see this is Numbers 14. In Numbers 14 the Lord has had it with the nation of Israel and as a result of their grumblings and complaints the Lord promises that the generation of complainers will all fall in the wilderness and not receive the blessing of entering the Promised Land. Notice, its not because of a sin that we might consider "a biggy" like adultery, murder or rape (thanks to Prof. Bingham for this insight!) God tells them that because of their complaining they aren't going into the land (this should certainly cause us to pause before ranking sins in our mind as a way to pat ourselves on the back for not committing what we consider the top 3 or 5). I don't think I'm off base at all by concluding that God is serious about complaining. But why? What's so bad about complaining about my mpg's in my car, about our school system, or price for cable television? Here are a few thoughts;

• In Philippians 4 we see a marvelous revelation from the apostle Paul as he admits that the secret to his life is contentment. He wholly trusts that in any situation that he endures or encounters he trusts he will make it through because of the strength found in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:13). God desires people who are looking to Him, focused on Him and trusting in Him and His plan for their circumstances.
• On the flip side, complaining ultimately is doubting God's sovereignty. When we complain in essence we are second guessing God's plan and God's placement of us in these particular circumstances. Our words may not be so clear, but really we are saying we think we could do better. This is evident in Numbers as the Israelites consistently complain that they shouldn't have left Egypt and their life was so much better in Egypt. What they're saying is, "we know best, and this Promised Land idea isn't what we want, we want to be back in Egypt."
• Finally, complaining focuses far too much of our thoughts and words on our circumstances rather than on the Lord's purpose behind them.
• Sometimes our negative circumstances our given as a lesson for us to learn. When we complain we fail to see the lesson God has given to us.
• Acts 8 is a great example of a man who refused to focus on the circumstances and focused instead on working in them for God's glory. Philip very easily could have complained about leaving Samaria for a desert road. He had done a great work in Samaria, things were happening, and he was a central reason for the revival. In the midst of the Lord's work in Samaria Philip is called out of that place for a desert road leading to Egypt. Can you imagine the disappointment or the temptation to sulk, moan, and complain? Instead, Philip seizes the opportunity that God planned by approaching the Ethiopian Eunuch and converting him to Christ.

Returning to the Numbers passage and the children of Israel who complained forty years in the desert until the last of their generation passed away, its good for me to remember how serious God takes sin, especially sin I so often commit. It's humbling, but at the same time it gives me a fresh taste of God's grace as I remember even now how selfish and sinful I can choose to live, and the forgiveness and mercy I can receive as I come to the throne of God asking for forgiveness. I'd encourage you not to make lists, God seems to flip them on us to remind us of His holiness and just how badly we need the Spirit's refining work in our lives...