We complain about EVERYTHING it seems. We will ask God to provide us with money to pay for new shoes, but then when we get the money, something comes up and we have to use the money to pay for new tires. What do we do? We complain and argue to God because he interrupted our plans. We complain because we are 25 and still single and all of our friends are getting married, even though we are closer to God than ever before. Or, God will give us a new job, but we will complain when people at work don’t do as much as we do and still make more than us. Or how about when we pray for God to heal us of a sickness, only to get sick again right after he heals the first one. We even complain when we tithe consistently, yet don’t receive anything in return. We don’t want to do something because we’re tired, or our back hurts, or because then we won’t have time to go to that movie with friends. We will find any reason to complain to God, even when he’s done nothing but show us love.

We start to complain and argue when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don’t have. We seem to stop being grateful for what God has given us and start thinking about what we would like to have. We can’t allow our unfulfilled desires cause us to forget God’s gifts of life, family, friends, food, health, salvation, and work. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” When we constantly complain and argue about every little thing in our lives, it starts to become harmful…especially in the church.

If all that people know about a church is that its members constantly argue, complain, and gossip, they get a false impression of Jesus and the gospel. Complaining won’t do anything but turn people away from salvation. If a church is always complaining and arguing, it lacks the unifying power that Jesus has. We need to stop arguing with other Christians and stop complaining about people and conditions within the church, and instead unite and let the world see Jesus.

Complaining leaves God out of the situation. Are you willing to tell God that your plans are more important than his promises? Stop complaining about what happens in your life and start accepting God’s provision for what happens in your life.

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