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Thankfulness to God for His common grace and His saving grace and special graces to us each day is something that should fill our hearts and overflow our lips, and show our children and grandchildren and co-workers and neighbors the joy of Christ.
If you have another passage of Scripture or your own thoughts about giving thanks rather than complaining, please post them in a comment. I’ll look forward to reading what you have to say.
Meanwhile, I’m preparing a message and doing research, and tonight we’re watching our grandson Matt. Our daughter Karina is ready to have her baby Jack any time. She’ll probably be called in to be induced tonight. Prayers appreciated. Thank you, Lord, for your grace.
Randy Alcorn
A 12 Point Cure for Complaining, by Bill Izard (http://www.bulletininserts.org/)
Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.
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. I always 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” (Romans 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).
7. To complain is to say God is not just.
“Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
8. Faith and prayer exclude complaining.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
9. This difficulty is being used by God for my good and it is foolish for me to complain against it.
“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
10. Those more faithful than I have suffered far worse than I, and did so without complaint.
“…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these, having gained approval through their faith…” (Hebrews 11:35-39)
11. Complaining denies that God’s grace is entirely sufficient.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
12. The greatest suffering, the worst trial or difficulty, can never rob me of that which is of greatest value to me and my greatest joy, namely the love of Christ.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
The Blessing of Gratitude, the Curse of Complaining
The child in this picture is NOT one of my grandchildren. But he pretty much captures what a lot of us, older and younger, behave like when we don’t get our way. (And have you noticed, we often DON’T get our way…which is actually good.)
Below IS my grandson, Tyler, who even though he is balancing on his head a log that weighs maybe four hundred pounds, maintains a cheerful demeanor. (Though he is feeling the weight on his eyelids.) I’m not bragging, but I’d like to see YOUR grandchild do this!
Below IS my grandson, Tyler, who even though he is balancing on his head a log that weighs maybe four hundred pounds, maintains a cheerful demeanor. (Though he is feeling the weight on his eyelids.) I’m not bragging, but I’d like to see YOUR grandchild do this!
September 28-30 I'll be speaking at the Desiring God National Conference. (See http://www.desiringgod.org/Events/NationalConferences/Archives/2007/ for info.) Somehow, I got invited to speak with John Piper, John MacArthur and Jerry Bridges, three men whose books have had a great impact on me. (I haven’t met the other speaker, Helen Roseveare, but have heard wonderful things about her.) Here's a video that might interest you:
(If you cannot view the video, click here to watch it on YouTube.)
I enjoyed the comments proposing which actors should play what parts in the Deadline movie. If you’ve read the book, who do you think should play Jake? Ollie? Finney? Doc? Janet? Sue? Carly? Other roles? If you have ideas, throw them out there. Who knows?
Since we returned from California, our dog Moses has been giving us constant attention. (Here he is with Ty, who can’t get enough of him.) I know some of you were biting your nails wondering who was taking care of Moses when we were gone. Rest easy—he was under the benevolent care of David Strickland, a fine Christian young man who for the last four years was on the Barlow High School tennis team that I’ve helped coach.
David and I have spent a ton of time playing tennis together over the years, and I’m going to miss him when he’s at Oregon State this fall. Yesterday I gave him the great book How to Stay Christian in College. I highly recommend that book to all students going off to college, which is in some respects like another planet. College can be a great mission field—but only for those prepared to be missionaries. Most young people are not prepared, and the spiritual casualty rate is high. David will be staying in a Christian dorm, which will help. He’s from a strong Christian home and has been on mission trips, which will help too. (Ironically, many unbelievers come to faith in college, but huge numbers of kids from Christian homes end up rejecting their faith, some vocally, most quietly.)
In the end, time spent with God, depending on Him, and close fellowship with Christ-centered brothers and sisters will make the difference. I believe David, who has a history of wise choices, will be one of the minority who comes through it closer to Jesus. But I will be praying for him.
When we talked on the phone while Nanci and I were gone, David told me that sometimes Moses seemed to be pouting that we’d left him behind, and that he (Moses) seemed to like David’s food better than his own. This reassured us that Moses was being himself.
Moses is a notorious food thief. He once robbed and devoured a raw steak that was about to be barbecued by my son-in-law Dan Stump. I would not recommend anyone attempt to pilfer beef from Dan (I certainly wouldn’t). Especially not when he is armed with one of those giant barbecue forks. Here’s Dan at Blue Lake park this summer. He’s standing next to a sixteen year old boy. Just kidding, that’s our three year old grandson, Jake. But still, you wouldn’t want to mess with Dan, or stand between him and meat.
If only we had the devotion to our Master that our dogs have to us….perhaps that’s one of the reasons God made them that way, to remind us of what devotion really means. The only time Moses really complains, by showing a pathetically pouty face, is when he sees the suitcases ready to go out the door. In the seven days we’ve been home, Moses has been grateful just to be with us. And we’re grateful that we love where God has put us, two miles from where I grew up, twelve miles from where Nanci grew up, in the house we’ve lived in since 1978. This world, as it now is, isn’t our home, but I’m thankful to have a foretaste of the New Earth now and then.
The following twelve point cure for complaining is the Word of God’s corrective to the spirit of entitlement and ingratitude that’s poisoning our culture, and too often the church as well. We are never grateful for what we think we deserve. On the contrary, we gripe and complain and think God and others are unfair if it doesn’t come to us.
Thank God we DON’T get what we deserve. There’s a four letter word for it: Hell. Christ took upon Himself what He didn’t deserve, so that I would not have to get what I deserved. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Meditate on 2 Corinthians 8:9 for a few million years. (We will—may as well get a head start.)
So, let’s all post this sign in our heads and hearts:
I enjoyed the comments proposing which actors should play what parts in the Deadline movie. If you’ve read the book, who do you think should play Jake? Ollie? Finney? Doc? Janet? Sue? Carly? Other roles? If you have ideas, throw them out there. Who knows?
Since we returned from California, our dog Moses has been giving us constant attention. (Here he is with Ty, who can’t get enough of him.) I know some of you were biting your nails wondering who was taking care of Moses when we were gone. Rest easy—he was under the benevolent care of David Strickland, a fine Christian young man who for the last four years was on the Barlow High School tennis team that I’ve helped coach.David and I have spent a ton of time playing tennis together over the years, and I’m going to miss him when he’s at Oregon State this fall. Yesterday I gave him the great book How to Stay Christian in College. I highly recommend that book to all students going off to college, which is in some respects like another planet. College can be a great mission field—but only for those prepared to be missionaries. Most young people are not prepared, and the spiritual casualty rate is high. David will be staying in a Christian dorm, which will help. He’s from a strong Christian home and has been on mission trips, which will help too. (Ironically, many unbelievers come to faith in college, but huge numbers of kids from Christian homes end up rejecting their faith, some vocally, most quietly.)
In the end, time spent with God, depending on Him, and close fellowship with Christ-centered brothers and sisters will make the difference. I believe David, who has a history of wise choices, will be one of the minority who comes through it closer to Jesus. But I will be praying for him.
When we talked on the phone while Nanci and I were gone, David told me that sometimes Moses seemed to be pouting that we’d left him behind, and that he (Moses) seemed to like David’s food better than his own. This reassured us that Moses was being himself.
Moses is a notorious food thief. He once robbed and devoured a raw steak that was about to be barbecued by my son-in-law Dan Stump. I would not recommend anyone attempt to pilfer beef from Dan (I certainly wouldn’t). Especially not when he is armed with one of those giant barbecue forks. Here’s Dan at Blue Lake park this summer. He’s standing next to a sixteen year old boy. Just kidding, that’s our three year old grandson, Jake. But still, you wouldn’t want to mess with Dan, or stand between him and meat.If only we had the devotion to our Master that our dogs have to us….perhaps that’s one of the reasons God made them that way, to remind us of what devotion really means. The only time Moses really complains, by showing a pathetically pouty face, is when he sees the suitcases ready to go out the door. In the seven days we’ve been home, Moses has been grateful just to be with us. And we’re grateful that we love where God has put us, two miles from where I grew up, twelve miles from where Nanci grew up, in the house we’ve lived in since 1978. This world, as it now is, isn’t our home, but I’m thankful to have a foretaste of the New Earth now and then.
The following twelve point cure for complaining is the Word of God’s corrective to the spirit of entitlement and ingratitude that’s poisoning our culture, and too often the church as well. We are never grateful for what we think we deserve. On the contrary, we gripe and complain and think God and others are unfair if it doesn’t come to us.
Thank God we DON’T get what we deserve. There’s a four letter word for it: Hell. Christ took upon Himself what He didn’t deserve, so that I would not have to get what I deserved. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Meditate on 2 Corinthians 8:9 for a few million years. (We will—may as well get a head start.)
So, let’s all post this sign in our heads and hearts:
Thankfulness to God for His common grace and His saving grace and special graces to us each day is something that should fill our hearts and overflow our lips, and show our children and grandchildren and co-workers and neighbors the joy of Christ.
If you have another passage of Scripture or your own thoughts about giving thanks rather than complaining, please post them in a comment. I’ll look forward to reading what you have to say.
Meanwhile, I’m preparing a message and doing research, and tonight we’re watching our grandson Matt. Our daughter Karina is ready to have her baby Jack any time. She’ll probably be called in to be induced tonight. Prayers appreciated. Thank you, Lord, for your grace.
Randy Alcorn
A 12 Point Cure for Complaining, by Bill Izard (http://www.bulletininserts.org/)
Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.
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. I always 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” (Romans 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).
7. To complain is to say God is not just.
“Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
8. Faith and prayer exclude complaining.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
9. This difficulty is being used by God for my good and it is foolish for me to complain against it.
“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
10. Those more faithful than I have suffered far worse than I, and did so without complaint.
“…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these, having gained approval through their faith…” (Hebrews 11:35-39)
11. Complaining denies that God’s grace is entirely sufficient.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
12. The greatest suffering, the worst trial or difficulty, can never rob me of that which is of greatest value to me and my greatest joy, namely the love of Christ.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).
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