Tempted to Complain? (Two truths to remember)

This morning, I awoke to a calm after a storm. Hurricane Sandy came through Maryland last night and did some damage. Not as much as expected, but still caused some inconveniences such as roads being closed, basements being flooded, power outages, lack of sleep.

After about 5 hours of sleep and a shower, I headed out to the local Starbucks to start prepping for two bible studies I will be leading in the next two days. So after I got my cup of coffee, I opened up my bible to Philippians 2. 

Verse 14, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,”

It was like a slap to my face, like a bucket of ice cold water being dumped on my head. I have constantly been tempted the last few months to grumble/complain about or question my circumstances. And not only have I been tempted, but I have been complaining and questioning my circumstances. Then last night happened, and I got minimal sleep and spent hours making making sure two basements didn’t flood. I complained this morning in my heart and started complaining even more this afternoon as I sat down in Starbucks trying to work and study without my eyes shutting. But then I read this verse and took a punch to the gut. I have no place to complain or grumble at all. Ever.

I have every reason to be happy, content and satisfied in my dear Lord this morning. And even though there are some inconveniences here and there. I’d still have every reason to be happy, content and satisfied in the Lord this morning.  There is a single truth that cannot change about me: I am a Son of God and this does not change based on how I feel or change because of circumstances. I am a Son of God because my faith is in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This is the reason we are to do everything without grumbling or complaining. . If Jesus didn’t grumble and complain about becoming a man and dying a death he didn’t deserve. Then I have no right to question or complain about anything.

Although this is the primary reason, Paul also gives us another reason to do everything without grumbling or questioning. Verses 14-15 together say, “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”

We live in a crooked and twisted generation. And when we grumble or complain, we are just going with the flow of this world. Let us shine as lights in the world.

So, today, tomorrow and the every day to follow let us remember these two truths no matter your circumstance and no matter how you feel:

Remember the truth of the gospel.  

Remember we are representing Jesus Christ. 

Let us fight to live in a way that we can say what Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."