No Complaining

Posted on January 14, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Do ALL things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14

I saw this cartoon this morning, and I had to chuckle. Well at first it made me chuckle and then the conviction came.

I am not one to do New Year’s resolutions each year, but I do set goals for myself.

After the laughter of reading this cartoon, I thought said to myself, “Self – this would be a good goal to put into practice this year.”

Take a mental recap of your last 48 hours. How many times did you complain about something or someone?

I am still very passionate about serving at America’s Keswick, but sometimes the complaining really gets to me. In the past 48 hours I heard so many complaints:

The room is too hot. The room is too cold.
I didn’t like that dessert.
Why did you put that person at my table for the concert? They talked too much.
I didn’t want that room; I wanted this one.
And the list goes on and on.

We complain about the rain. We complain that we need rain.
We complain about how busy we are, or we complain that we are bored.

We complain about how people drive like idiots.
We complain about our kids, our spouses, our jobs.

We complain about our church. The music is too loud. We don’t like to stand. We don’t like the length of the sermon. We don’t like all these young kids around.

We complain about our health. We complain, complain, complain.

There have been two or three people in my ministry life that I almost always dreaded seeing. If possible, I would try and go the other direction. Why? NOTHING came out of their mouths that wasn’t a complaint about something.

During our conference for New Year’s, I listened to one of the saints. Every time they opened their mouth, it was to complain about something. I heard NOTHING positive from them during the 48 hours they were on campus.

What would happen if we put a moratorium on complaining? What would our personal life look like? What would our families look like? What would our job look like? What would our churches look like?

The Apostle Paul doesn’t really give us any wiggle room in Philippians 2:14. He doesn’t say we can complain about some things – he says do ALL things without complaining and disputing.

So I am starting out this new year saying, “Lord, help me not to complain today. And when I am tempted to, please bring this verse to my attention.” I can’t ask you to so something that I am not going to do as well. With God’s help, want to turn my complaints into words of encouragement and blessing.

And just maybe, this is just another way to relentlessly pursue Christ. Think about it.

Relentlessly pursuing Christ,

Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick

Written by Bill Welte: Written by Bill Welte,President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 33-35; Romans 11:19-36 | You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Today’s Quote: “Don’t enter a spirit of worship at your church with an evaluation form in your hand.” — Dr. Roger Willmore

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” -Genesis 3:15

 

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