Complaining and Arguing
“Do everything without complaining and arguing,” (Philippians 2:14)
This instruction sounds simple—or is at least simply worded—but anyone knows from life experience that it is difficult to do everything without complaining and arguing. How often do you complain or argue about things on a day-to-day basis? Sometimes complaining and arguing is all people seem to do. If you don’t believe that, turn on the news for a few seconds. The spirit of complaining is rooted in pride and selfishness; the main reason anyone would complain or argue about anything is because they are thinking of themselves over the person or thing they are complaining about. The Scriptures give us plenty of reasons as to why we should not complain or argue. First, we should not complain or argue so we will not be criticized.
“…so that no one can criticize you.” (Philippians 2:15a)
Everyone’s a critic because everyone has an opinion and oftentimes people are not afraid to share that opinion. Do you enjoy being criticized? Wouldn’t it be nice to live in such a way that no one could say anything critical about you? Paul wrote that if we do everything without complaining or arguing then no one can criticize us. As Paul continues, we get another reason to not complain or argue.
“Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” (Philippians 2:15b)
Refraining from complaining and arguing is one way we can show others that we are children of God. It is one way we can shine bright in this dark world. Our lives are the examples and the light that people will see, and if we live without complaining and arguing we will stand out from the crooked and perverse people of this world. A complaining or argumentative spirit also stands in opposition to a grateful and thankful spirit.
“This is the day the Lord has made.We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17)
Complaining and arguing hurts our role as representatives of Christ. It is impossible to give thanks in all circumstances and to rejoice if we are complaining and arguing. James gives us another reason to not complain.
“Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9)
When the judgment is discussed in Scripture we are always reminded that it is coming soon, and James wrote that the Judge is standing at the door. James instructed Christ-followers not to grumble about each other or we would be judged. The best example we have against complaining and arguing would be the Israelites in the desert. God set them free from the bondage of slavery and all they did was complain every step of the way. Complaining and arguing and turning to worship idols led to their banishment from the Promised Land. The writers of the New Testament used the Israelites as examples to warn against a complaining spirit.
“And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.” (1 Corinthians 10:10)
You have been set free from the bondage of slavery to sin and are trekking through the desert of this life to get to the Promised Land of Heaven. Are you living in your freedom like the Israelites, complaining every chance you get? Are you in danger of judgment, banishment from the Promised Land, or being destroyed by the angel of death? Let go of your complaining attitude and rather than focus on the mud on your feet, stand in awe of the sea walls around you. Turn your focus from yourself and focus on the love of God and the freedom He has given you from sin and death. Do everything without complaining and arguing.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
