Text:
Genesis 3:12 (ESV)
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Genesis 4:6 (ESV)
6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
Observation:
Today I didn’t have to turn too many pages in my Bible to discover what it had to say about complaining. It has been around a long time; I found the origin in the book of beginnings.
I remember hearing a former pastor say, “An excuse is a reason with its brains blown out”.
Why do people complain so much? Is complaining the best practice to accomplish what you desire? Or, like the quote from my former pastor, is it just an excuse?
It is very difficult, and almost impossible to lead a group of people who are always complaining. It is destructive, debilitating, and discouraging. Notice what it did to God’s anointed servant who was chosen by God.
Exodus 17:4 (ESV)
4 So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
I was prompted to write on this topic by an article I read earlier this morning. This is the statement that got my attention.
“I continue to be amazed by the hatred of the most beautiful miracle to land in our collective laps in years”.
In what context do you think this statement was made?
- Government
- Education
- Military
- Media
- Medicine
- Family
- Sports
- Church
Which one did you pick?
For believers, we can do better than to be named with the complainers. God has so richly blessed us with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the gifts of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
This is the best practice for Christ Followers; it comes from the lips of Jesus, and it is for you; not your neighbor.
John 15:5 (ESV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I ask that You would stir the hearts of Christ followers everywhere that we would have the faith and the courage to release from within us the power that You have placed in us. Lord, help us to bear much fruit. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
—
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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