Are You Grumbling?

 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ sI may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:12-16 ESV).

 

Grumbling is the antithesis to gratitude. Yet, we all fall into that pattern from time to time. I can grumble at the gas station (high prices), at the grocery store (not enough checkout lanes open), at the doctor’s office (it takes so long to get in), watching television (the commercials are so long), in the kitchen (emptying the dishwasher), on the driveway (the inside of the windshield smears when I clean it). My tent of discontent can be huge! No wonder Jeremiah Burroughs’ 1648 classic is titled The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. And what he wrote in the book is true: “Murmuring is below the spirit of a Christian.”

 

I am often reminded of my grumpiness when Mary will say, “You must not feel well. You sure are grumpy.” It is a great reminder that regardless of my inconvenience, no one deserves my grumbling. No wonder Jesus had to die on the cross—our sins include even our grumbling, murmuring, complaining, and discontent. And he died without grumbling about our grumbling!

 

We have the perfect example in Jesus. He didn’t grumble; in fact, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (cf. Philippians 2). We, then, should “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

 

Lent is a good time to work on our attitude and give up our grumbling.