THOU SHALT NOT COMPLAIN!

THOU SHALT NOT COMPLAIN!

It’s certainly not one of the ‘TEN.’  Nevertheless, it is a COMMANDMENT that echoes consistently throughout the scriptures.  Any parents who have ever driven their children in the backseat of a car can readily understand how OUR FATHER feels about His children’s tendency to complain.  From the rear of our vehicles, we sometimes experience emotional earthquakes, those especially annoying verbal rumblings that take place between allegedly loving siblings: “Mommy, Tumi TOUCHED me!” (or) “Daddy, Lucy keeps LOOKING at me!” (or) “Tommy…STOP THAT!”  This is absolutely exasperating (especially on long road trips), and we are tempted to pull over to the roadside to grant the ‘board of education’ an opportunity to transform their heads and hearts via their behinds!  I am completely cognizant of the fact that the previous line could seem politically incorrect to ‘The Timeout Generation’ – but can I get a witness anyway?

Our children’s car behavior is an amusing yet accurate caricature of us.  As The Father drives us through this road trip called LIFE, all too often we fail to enjoy the gorgeous scenery He has provided (or) the sheer joy of being in His presence (or) the wonderful blessing of relationship and proximity with our brothers and sisters, because we SEE LIFE…we FRAME LIFE…in a never ending series of complaints.  Hmmm…think about it!

Actually, our God detests a carping and complaining spirit.  Why?  Simply put, NEGATIVITY never brings glory to God or gain to us.  It is the diametrical opposite of PRAISE, which consistently manifests the presence and power of God.  Praise operates at the very center of God’s will, the place of His power and provision.  On the other hand, complaining is a satanically spawned declaration of high anxiety, doubt and ingratitude.  For example, when the children of Israel had been delivered out of Pharaoh’s Egypt by the mighty hand of God, they soon fell headlong into the complaining trap.  God had provided manna from Heaven so they could make bread cakes to satisfy their appetites and nourish their bodies.  Yet, even though the Israelites had been physically freed from Egypt, they were still in emotional bondage to the customs and cuisine of their oppressors.  In a word, they needed to be fully delivered from the SPIRIT OF EGYPT that was deeply embedded within them.  These supernaturally blessed children of The Most High God implicitly mocked divine provision by their failure to praise and their proclivity to complain.  The Word of God clearly testifies against them:

Numbers 11:4-6
4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 WE REMEMBER the FISH, which we did eat in EGYPT freely; the CUCUMBERS, and the MELONS, and the LEEKS, and the ONIONS, and the GARLIC:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is NOTHING AT ALL, BESIDE THIS MANNA, before our eyes.

Think about it!  The Israelites were ‘hooked’ on the beans and watermelon of their enemy!  Now you can understand why Daniel refused to eat any of the king’s dainties. (Daniel 1:8)  There is an addictive quality to menus that are derived from sources outside the providence and provision of God!  That’s why we should not snack from Satan’s illusory lunches that seem so appetizing to our flesh but are surreptitiously laden with deceit, doubt and disappointment.  The net result of the Israelite’s complaining was the displeasure and wrath of God.  “When the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1)

In one of my favorite books, “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino, a character named Hafid discovers ten scrolls of wisdom.  The sixth scroll contains this advice: “Today I will be a master of my emotions.  Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts.”  In other words, we who seek to be successful (while maintaining divine approval) must exercise a staunch refusal to fuss, fume, gripe or groan due to unanticipated changes in either the people or the circumstances that surround us.

There is a song written by Rev. Don Johnson, made popular by the gospel artist Rev. Paul Jones, entitled “I Won’t Complain.”  The lyrics are so powerful because they remind us never to embrace a sniveling, whining, moaning or complaining spirit:

I've had some good days, I've had some hills to climb;
I've had some weary days and so many sleepless nights.
But when I look around and think things over,
All of my good days outweigh my bad days;
I won't complain!

God’s been so good to me, He’s been so good to me;
More than this world or you could ever be,
That’s how good God is to me!
He dries all my tears away, turns midnight into day;
So I'll say “Thank you, Lord!” – “Thank you, Lord!”

I won't complain!

Here’s a suggestion for all of us.  We should ask the Father (who truly loves all of His children) to install a praise thermostat in our attitudes and spirits.  I submitted my requisition some time ago.  The result: whenever or wherever I am tempted to complain, I am soon regulated and restored by the phenomenal power of praise!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!