Do All Things Without Complaining
We must not… grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer
(1 Corinthians 10:9-10 ESV).
Have you made it to the pros in complaining? If you are, your friends and family know it. In each challenging situation, a chronic complainer will find fault. Persistent complaining affects temperament by generating a bad mood. A constant progression of feeling negative makes facing the next situation with an open mind almost impossible. Complainers often feel sorry for themselves and center on how people mistreat, misuse, and let them down. Despair sets in, compromising their faith in God and in people, who desire to help.
Murmuring is a sin that spreads a negative report like germs spread disease. The sins of the tongue include gossip, slander, and deception. Sinful people enjoy hearing negative things so they can have something of which to complain. Such people are quick to make snap judgments that are wrong. The Israelites blamed Moses for bringing them out of Egypt thinking they would die in the wilderness. Their negative attitude kept them out of the promise of a new life, a place of rest, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The first step to stop grumbling is to be sober. Cover your mouth when you complain like you cover your mouth when you have a cough. Come to consciousness and begin to listen to your words. People have already pegged you as negative because of them. You are not leading those people to Christ you are leading them away from Him. In all things give thanks because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.