Cease the Grumbling and Complaining

Bread

The Lion Loosed

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Corinthians 10:6-10 (NIV)

9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:9 (NIV)

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm--shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted--twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Jude 1:11-16 (NIV)

40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” 43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:40-44 (NIV)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:7-10 (NIV)

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)

Butter

The Lesson Learned

“Whenever you react with praise and thanksgiving for an opportunity to grow more like Jesus in your way of reacting to things, instead of grumbling or feeling self-pity, you will find that that whole situation will be changed into a great blessing.” Hannah Hurnard

“Grumbling is the hum of the fallen human heart, and often a hallmark of Christian’s indwelling sin.” Scott Hubbard

“Her example was the antithesis of complaining, that ‘woe is me’ tendency to grouse, grouch, and grumble. Complainers are usually contentious instead of content, tear down instead of building, and wear others out emotionally. A complainer’s lack of contentment is often caused by a tendency to compare themselves to others. Complainers are often people who relive ugly situations and perceived injustices over and over in their minds. They are unwilling or unable to let past events or hurts go. Complainers keep reloading their minds with negative thoughts and often live in depression, despair, or darkness. Pastor Harry Reeder puts it like this, ‘Selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered people are despairing, despondent, and depressed.’” Donna Evans

“Grumbling and complaining denotes a dissatisfied heart with God’s plan for our lives. When we murmur and wail over our circumstance we demonstrate our lack of contentment with His provisions for us and, as the “rabble” complained about the manna, it incites God’s anger. So often we are consumed by selfish ambitions and vain conceits with a penchant for every sort of self-indulgence. Comfort becomes not a luxury but a necessity and almost a “god” in our eyes. Our giftings are meant to lead us into selfless service with a pure heart. Indeed, that is where the abundant life is found. Watch your hearts and guard against dissatisfaction – whatever that may look like in your life.” BHY

“Grumbling is discontentment made audible.” Scott Hubbard

“If you anoint yourself a fault-finder, you find yourself at fault in the end. When complaining and blaming is a way of life — we can’t complain that there’s no one else to blame when we can’t find the way to the abundant life.” Ann Voskamp

“Grumbling is the luxury of self-absorption at someone else's expense.” Dr. Harry Reeder

“Grumbling is more than the voice of discontentment. It is also the voice of unbelief. We grumble when our faith in God’s good purposes falters. Unwilling to trust that God is crafting this disappointment for our good, we have eyes only for the painful now.” Scott Hubbard

“Stop resisting Him. Stop resenting Him. Stop complaining. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop demanding what you want. Stop focusing on the outer wrappings of yourself and your circumstances. Adjust your attitude. Change your mind about things, about yourself, about others and about Him. Relax in total trust. He knows what He’s doing. Unwrap the package! Let go and look up! Let Him open the eyes of your heart. Open your eyes!” Anne Graham Lotz

“Our weariness, our grumbling, and our complaining grows as we seek to be faithful to God’s ways in our own strength and not in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing eternal is ever done in the flesh – all done in the flesh will be found wanting – it is only through the Spirit that eternal works are accomplished. When working in our own power we simply wear ourselves out going nowhere fast.” BHY

“Brave joy is the magnet for everything you need, not boorish complaining. Brave joy will draw people in, will attract the help you need, will surround you with love — in a way that boorish complaining never can.” Ann Voskamp

“What if you woke up tomorrow with only what you were grateful for today?” Anonymous

Heart Savor

The Lion Roars

  • We are never to be lacking in zeal but keep our spiritual fervor serving the Lord.
  • We are to be zealous for the Lord’s great Name – through His power for His glory.
  • Create in me a pure heart and a steadfast spirit Oh Lord.