Some of my complaining thoughts yesterday:

#1: (Walking downstairs at home) “This house is cheaply made! It’s creaking!”

#2: (Getting into my car) “This car is so old its automatic doors won’t work!”

#3: (Teaching math at the high school) “Why don’t they understand this simple concept? Argh!”

#4: (Tutoring kids after school): “I’m so tired, I want to go home and watch the Broncos play.”

#5: (At Starbucks, working): “What’s wrong with this Starbucks! Their wifi won’t work!!! I paid $2.19 for that coffee! I got my rights!!!”

Yet, every one of those things was a privilege. A kid in Cambodia would love to have a house in America, a car, teach at a private American high school…etc.

“Ok, so, be grateful for what you have, is what you are saying?” Yes, but our complaints show something far more serious than a simple perspectival deficiency.

It shows unbelief.

The reason why God killed every single person in the desert who came out of Egypt with Moses (except two) was because they complained and grumbled. And what did complaining and grumbling show? Unbelief.

“And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron….And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” Numbers 14:2, 11

It is unbelief because complaints show that we think our way is better than God’s way. Had we been in charge, we would do a better job than God.

Jesus did not speak a word as He was being interrogated by his enemies. He did not say a single word of complaint to God even as He was being crucified. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was not a complaint but a fact. (And a quote from the Psalms). Yet, He was the only perfect, sinless, Son of God. So…

#1: “Are you kidding me? I have a house!”

#2: “God let me drive this car for so long safely. How blessed!”

#3: “I GET TO teach!”

#4: “I’m making a difference in these kids lives!”

#5: “I can afford to come here when I deserved hell!”

PH