These people are discontented grumblers, walking according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.

But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; they told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers walking according to their own ungodly desires.”  These people create divisions and are unbelievers not having the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life.  Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.  Jude 1:16-23 HCSB

I have been convicted of the fact that I am an arrogant grumbler.  You see when things don’t go my way and people don’t behave as I would like for them to behave, I grumble.  The Lord has been dealing with me on this matter for about a week now.

Who am I to determine how others behave?  Now of course God tells us to avoid evil. So we must have the wisdom to discern people’s motives, but we are here to lift up the lost.  Some people are not evil, they are just lost.  They may be seeking salvation but severely lacking in social skills.  They may have good intentions but need guidance.

So, God has pointed out to me that when I just sit and grumble about others, I am being arrogant.  I grumble because they are not like me. When I do this, am I not walking according to my own desire?  I want them to behave the way I want them to behave.  I tend to flatter those who are more “like” me or who are as I would like to be.  Now praise God, He never points out a problem without pointing us toward a solution.  As a matter of fact, this scripture passage gives a list of what we should do to avoid being arrogant grumblers.

First, we are instructed to build ourselves up in faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  We are then told to keep ourselves in the love of God.  And then the biggies, which should be a little easier if we are doing the first ones.  We are told to have mercy on those who doubt.  We are to save others by snatching them from the fire and to have mercy on others but with fear.  This means that some of those who doubt have been given over to their own evil desires (Romans 1:24).  They are evil and have wicked intentions.  Saving them is well beyond our pay grade.  Love them and pray for them but keep your distance.

The bible cautions us against causing a believer to stumble (Romans 14:13).  In church, when we set out judging others it can cause division.  The bible tells us that if we have a problem with someone that we should go to them (Matthew 18:15-17).  Nowhere does it say that we should run around behind their backs and rally the support of others. We must always remember that as Christians God never calls us to do the easy stuff.  What He asks of us is hard work, but He equips us to do it.  He is right there to strengthen us.

God is calling me to stop myself when I open my mouth to criticize someone.  He is calling me, to instead, bow my head in prayer.  If you have this same problem, then won’t you join me this week and try to do the same.  And, if you have never experienced this problem, then perhaps you can give me and my fellow arrogant grumblers some pointers on removing this sin from our lives.

Have a great day!