Complaining
Most of the people are dissatisfied with something in their lives, therefore they complain. People complain about their friends, neighbours, relatives and even of their husbands and wives because they do not live up to their expectations. People complain about their jobs; their income is not high enough. People complain about their health which they themselves have ruined by their wrong habits. People complain about the churches they are attending. They complain about the other members in the churches. This list of complaints could go on endlessly. All the complainers are miserable and unhappy. And besides this they make others miserable by spreading their dissatisfaction around
The first question is what do we gain by complaining? And the next one is do we have a right to complain? And finally, can we have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and still complain about our hardships?
The first question is easy to answer. We gain nothing by complaining, but we can lose much. The old Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron and therefore they could not enter into the Promised Land.
“And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!” Num. 14:2.
“Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye had spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you accordingly to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against Me.” Num. 14:28,29.
“Brother and Sister B, you have a work to do for yourselves which no one can do for you. You are inclined to murmur and complain. You have something to do to subdue your natural feelings. Live for God yourselves, knowing that you have not to answer for the wrongs of others. I saw, Brother B, that you would certainly be overcome by Satan, and make utter shipwreck of faith, unless you stop your faultfinding and seek pure and undefiled religion before God.” Test. Vol. 2, p. 221.
“God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining.” EW, p. 47.
Complaining will not alleviate our sorrow. It will not increase our faith and trust in God, but rather weakens our faith. Those who listens to our complaints will not benefit from it either, but it will take away their joy and peace and fill their minds with bitterness.
The next question was, do we have a right to complain? Is it possible that someone may suffer injustice, while being innocent? The Bible gives a simple and clear answer to it. “The wages of sin is Death.” Rom. 6:23. We all have committed sins and therefore we all deserve death. This would be justice,:but we are not receiving justice, but mercy. Sinners have life and hope of eternal life even. The recipients of mercy have no right to complain. Our heavenly Father has to discipline and chastise His children because He loves them. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” Rev. 3:19.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28.
Jesus did not promise to His followers an easy life, but tribulations, trials, persecutions, and a martyr’s death.
If we complain about the leading and chastening of God, He will leave us alone to go on our own way, which means to perish.
God has made a perfect plan for each one of us. His plan includes a narrow way, fiery trials, loss of earthly goods but in the end an eternal life. If we complain about the leading of God, He will leave us to the other possible leader which is Satan.
We as the children of God have no right to complain, but rather to rejoice and give thanks, even when surrounded by hardships.
The third question was, can we have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit and still feel miserable and complain? The answer is simply no. Anyone who has the spirit of God is filled with joy and happiness. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace. It is not possible to have the Holy Spirit without its fruit.
Apostle Paul had the Holy Spirit and he says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Cor. 12:10.
The early Christians had to suffer much yet without complaint. “Under the fiercest persecution these witnesses for Jesus kept their faith unsullied. Though deprived of every comfort, shut away from the light of the sun, making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience, and hope they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress.” GC, p. 41.
Sister White wrote of herself, “Much of the time my body is full of pain, but I will not by complaining become unworthy of the name of Christian.” SM 2, p. 238.
By hardships and affliction we learn the lesson of patience. And patience is required for our salvation. The image of God is place in us daily through sufferings and tribulations. The stone that the artist is working on receives ten thousand hammer blows while other stones peacefully lie on the ground. God is the Master Artist shaping us to His own image. Let us never complain any more, but rather rejoice that God is working on us and has not left us to perish in our sins.
AMEN