For The Glory of God

All of us have our times that we are negative but I do not like to be around people who are constantly negative. Negative people bring others down. I loved my Granny but she did tend to be negative. I will never forget it had rained for several days and she constantly complained about it. It made her arthritis hurt. It made her cold. Finally, the sun came out! It was beautiful and I waited for her to say something positive. Finally, I said, "it sure is gorgeous today, isn't it, Granny?" She did not miss a beat. She said, "the sun is hurting my eyes."

What have we complained about today? Maybe we are unhappy with our job, our marriage, our children, our parents, where we live, how much money we make, and the list goes on!

Philippians 2: 14, "Do everything without grumbling or arguing..." Apostle Paul did not say do the fun things without grumbling or do the not so bad things without grumbling. He said do everything without grumbling. Colossians 3: 17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3; 23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,"

The one purpose of man is to glorify God! Our lives, our behavior and our words should bring to glory go God. This means we make Him look good! It makes others look at us and want what we have. We are to put the interests of others ahead of our own without grumbling!

It is easy for us to sit in Sunday school and criticize the Israelites who were grumbling in the wilderness just days after God had delivered them. But we do the same thing. Look at all that we have! We have become so prosperous that we complain if we cannot get something the very day we want it. We get anything we want whenever we want it. Gone are the days of waiting for someone to call you back. We send messages and expect responses immediately.

Grumbling is like poison that seeps in to our minds so that we are not happy with anything. And then it becomes a habit. And next thing you know you enjoy complaining. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4: 11, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." I think he is telling us we have a choice to make. We can choose to be content in our circumstances or we can grumble.

Grumbling says that God owes us something that He is not providing! Maybe there is a reason things are not going our way at this time. God has a better way and He is working these changes in our lives to help us become more like him!

Doug Hamilton wrote "The Danger of Grumbling". He says grumbling leads to stumbling with God's people. Grumbling leads to crumbling of core relationships. Grumbling leads to mumbling of words that are difficult to take back. Grumbling leads to bumbling which means you are not achieving anything.

Grumbling is a poison in your life. When we grumble we are not being the light in the darkness of this corrupt world. Hold fast to God's Word. Fill your heart and mind with God's goodness and graciousness. The more you do this the more you will see what God has done for you. The more you will realize how blessed you are and the more content you will become. 1 Corinthians 10: 31, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."