Closely Clinging Sin: Complaining
by Pastor David

Sin clings to us. And worse than that, it clings closely, even to believers. Shannon served us well last week by provoking us to run, and I’d like to consider just one of those sins we must lay aside. Complaining clings closely to us, and I wonder if one of the reasons is that we don’t recognize and treat it as the woeful sin it is. It is all too easy to utter a critical word about the weather, or our possessions, or how someone else treated us, and never stop to consider that our complaints are offensive to God.

Complaining is all about perspective. The exact same circumstances can be met with either worship or sin. It’s not the circumstances that are to blame, but our response, based on our perspective. Bill Izzard provides 12 helpful perspectives for us when it comes to complaining. Here are the first six.

“1.    God commands me never to complain.

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14 (NAS)

2.    God commands me to give thanks in every circumstance.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

3.    God commands me to rejoice always, and especially in times of trial.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians 4:4
Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

4.    Ialways deserve much worse than what I am suffering now⎯in fact, I deserve hell.

Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins? Lamentations 3:39
Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3

5.    In light of the eternal happiness and glory that I will experience in heaven, this present trial is extremely brief and insignificant, even if it were to last a lifetime.   

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:19

6.    My suffering is far less than that which Christ suffered, and He did not complain.

Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:23”

May we run to grace to teach us to die to our complaining, and run the unhindered race.