Priceless Woman MinistriesPriceless Woman Ministries
Julia M.
Faulkner
sunshine@pricelesswoman.com
http://www.pricelesswoman.com
Julia M. Faulkner
Have you ever known a person who didn't just complain when the weather was bad or when it was just a generally bad day, but who just constantly had a complaint about everything? Nothing ever seems to pacify a person like this. You often begin to wander if they're ever happy or satisfied with anything in life. Most conversations with someone like this are mostly onesided. It's impossible to get a word in edgewise because they dominate your conversations with their gripes. When the phone rings, you dread answering it, thinking it might be HER! Or you see her in public and you want to run in the opposite direction. You feel bad but you just can't stand to be around this person anymore. "What's wrong with this person!", you ask yourself.
Have you ever stopped to consider that God asks this same question of us? What are your prayers like? Full of praise, love, and requests for those in need? Or lots of complaints about a lousy day, a terrible life, or whatever else you can think of to complain about? Granted, there is a fine line between complaining and true burdens.
In my humble opinion, it's how you handle things when they come your way. You can let them get you down, causing you to wallow in selfpity, which in turn usually causes us to start complaining to the first person who asks us how things are going. Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Oh Lord! Not today!! Please!".
Why don't we just lean on those everlasting arms! Doesn't that sound better to you? Just lay your burdens at Jesus' feet. That's one of the benefits of being a child of God. But don't go to Him ready to gripe, gripe, gripe! Come to Him asking for grace. He does care about us. Even if it seems like a petty thing, you matter to the Lord. And because of this you can always depend on Him.
One thing I've always been guilty of is serving others with a bad attitude. It always seems like people need me at the worst times. But I say I'll help them out anyway because I love them, and because I know it will please God. Then I start thinking about all I've got to do for my family and myself, and automatically I start complaining. "I don't have time for this today. Why did they have to call me? How do I get myself into these things?" Well, God usually brings to my remembrance 2 Corinthians 9:7. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver". Talk about an attitude changer! Try posting this where you can see it often.
Usually selfcenteredness, envy, discontent, and rebellion are the real causes behind constant complaints. Just look at Israel (Psalm 78, beginning verse 8). God was providing every need for them in the wilderness. But what did they do, but continually complain about their provisions. Sound ungracious to you? Sound familiar to you? You may not take your gripes directly to the Lord, but don't forget that He can hear every word you utter, whether it be from the lips or the heart. Heb:4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". What is the intent of your heart? To have your way or God's will?
Hebrews 11: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content". Can you say that you are content with what God does for you? Why or why not? In Galatians 5 we read that familiar passage of the fruit of the Spirit. ALL bornagain children of God have these characteristics. Joy and peace walk handinhand with contentment. And contentment comes from accepting God's goodness.
Philipians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others". Want to stop being so occupied with "me, me, me"? Put this verse into action and see what happens! We are not here to serve us, but to do the will of God. Philipians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure". Are you striving to follow God's will or the desires of your own heart?
14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15: Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18: May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21: Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." When we allow the love that Christ has for us fill our hearts and minds, then we can be content in all things and complaining becomes distasteful to us. We don't have to have material things, or a perfect life to be content. To know the love of Christ should be what makes us full on the inside. Happy & content!
You know, I'm afraid to complain. I don't want God to take away my home, children, husband, or whatever it is I don't appreciate. If I'm not happy with what I've been given, then the Lord might just decide to give it to someone else. I want to be a good steward with my blessings. Even if they do make me crazy once in a while!
Have you ever stopped to consider if Jesus ever complained? I can't see this in him. Even though he was rejected, and persecuted, and falsely accused, I don't recall ever reading in my Bible a time when Jesus complained. It is true that he had his burdens, and I'm sure he missed his heavenly home, but he was here to do the will of his father. Willingly! He had the right attitude and that's what kept him from letting this old world get the best of him. We should all strive to be more like him.
The End
© 1996 by Julia M. Faulkner, Sonshine Publications