For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons; My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives. Hebrews 12:3-6 HCSB
Sunday night, in our pastor spoke of the great lengths we will go to for our jobs, our sports teams, our hobbies and pleasures but how little we are willing to endure to follow Christ.
God doesn’t care for whining and complaining. He punished the Israelites numerous times for whining and complaining while out in the desert. Their trip from Egypt to Canaan or the Promised Land should have been about 14 days, but it took 40 years. They died in the desert and never reached the promised land. Only their children born to them during this journey made it, those 20 and younger. God punished them for their grumbling and complaining which also often led them into idolatry.
God doesn’t like grumbling, whining and complaining. We serve a God of discipline.
A few drops of rain will keep many from going to church. The chance at doing something better like attending a football game or boating with friends will keep many people from attending a Sunday morning church service.
And then there are those who attend but complain the whole time they are there.
Our Scripture passage begins by telling us to consider the suffering Jesus endured on that cross. Consider the humility and hostility He suffered. If you find yourself losing heart, just think about what He endured so that you could be set free from sin and death.
Have we become so entitled that we fail to appreciate all Jesus did for us? He gave His life for us. He devoted His life here on earth to live as an example for us to teach us how to live. We are told in Ephesians 5:1 that we should imitate Him.
We can’t imitate Him if we don’t know Him. We get to know Him through Bible study. It’s through Bible study that we learn of His great love for us. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). He loved us so much that He even died for us while we were sinners. He didn’t say, “Clean up your act and I will die for you,” He did it for us while we were sinners. When we were busy being His enemy, He gave His life for us (Romans 5:8).
We need to daily remind ourselves of this especially when we are tempted to complain.
Now if you are going to a church where the teaching doesn’t line up with the Bible, you need to find a new church where the teaching does line up with the Bible. But if you are whining and complaining about something that in the grand scheme of things really doesn’t matter-just stop. Think about what He endured for us. Think about all the times He has put up with your whining and complaining. And realize there will come a day when you will be disciplined for it.
I’m going to leave you with just a few of the verses that warn us against complaining. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling or arguing.” James 5:9 says, “Do not grumble against one another, brothers so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”
In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul warns of the things we should not do. In verse 10 he says we should not grumble as some did and were destroyed by the destroyer.
Instead, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Are you willing to endure a little discomfort for Him? He endured a great deal of discomfort even to the point of death for you. Think about that the next time you start complaining.
Have a great day!