The Language of Discontent
Philippians 2:14-16
It is quite obvious that
the circumstances of our world today offer opportunity for individuals to have
conversations about how difficult things are.
For the Christian, complaining is personally destructive, spiritually
debilitating and only serves to make our witness to the world more difficult.
The language of discontent is complaining.
A complaint to God is a lament.
It is the sharing of a burden and shows trust in God as the One who can
change our condition.
Complaining to men is the outward expression of inner discontent
and a sign of rebellion against God’s providence in our lives.
Whining and complaining are signs of self-centeredness.
A major cause of all fighting is selfishness.
A grumbling in the soul will spread to a murmuring from the lips
and eventually to complaining in public.
Complaining stems from bitterness.
Murmuring is "indignant displeasure.”
Five types of complainers found in
scripture:
I. Boo Birds Exodus 15:23-24
· This is the attitude of Second Guessers.
II. Chronic Complainers Exodus 16:2
· Complaining is a demonstration of a heart of ingratitude.
· We speak our world into existence.
· We change our world by changing our speech.
III. Authority Rebels Numbers
16:2-3
• Spiritual pride was the downfall of these.
IV. Neglected Saints Acts 6:1
· Jealousy created the first fellowship problem in the church.
V. Lazy Workers Numbers
14:36-37
· It is far easier to sit and recite the reasons
why something cannot be done than to get up and try to find a way
to
do it.
