Complaining and Discontentment

Complaining and Discontentment  Ruin Your Heart

For more than fifteen years I have challenged parents to find more time to study God’s Word and train up their children. Oftentimes, I was met with the excuse: “We just don’t have enough time.” For decades, spiritual growth often took a back seat to ball practice, band practice, school plays, or some school club. Parents frequently served as glorified taxi-drivers, chauffeuring their children from one activity to the next.

complaining behavior

Are you characterized by complaining, discontentment, or grumbling?

And then came the coronavirus—and in the blink of an eye we all discovered that we had more free time. Suddenly, our transient lifestyles hit a major roadblock as more and more states began enforcing “Shelter at home” statutes. No more ball practice. School plays were canceled. Even graduation plans have been put on hold, as our nation now watches and waits to see how long this thing will last.

At first, most families enjoyed the break. It was almost like we had been given an extended weekend vacation. But once the newness of “social distancing” wore off, it became tiresome for many. How much longer would we have to endure? Why can’t grocery stores restock flour and toilet paper? How am I supposed to work with the kids at home? Why isn’t Netflix offering everything for free? Why can’t the government get their act together and help fix this mess?

What has been our response to this unsettling time? While there have been some beautiful demonstrations of love and Christianity, one common thread that is woven throughout many social media posts is grumbling and complaining. We don’t like not knowing the future. We don’t like not being able to do all the things we used to do. We don’t like not being able to hug our friends. We don’t like what this is doing to the economy. We don’t like what this is doing to our jobs. We don’t like how certain political parties are handling this. We don’t like…and the list could go on for days.

An honest evaluation reveals that we sound like the Israelites—a people who knew God but didn’t take long to start complaining. In Exodus 14 we find God delivering them safely through the Red Sea. One chapter later, in Exodus 15:24, they are already complaining, “What shall we drink?” They complained about food. They complained about water. They complained that their enemies would crush them. They complained about Moses. Think about that for a moment. God had revealed Himself to them, saved them, and yet—they complained.

According to Deuteronomy 1:2 it is only an eleven-day journey from “Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.” Eleven days. But because of their lack of faithfulness, unbelief, and complaining they would end up spending the next 40 years walking in the wilderness. “So the Lord’s anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone” (Numbers 32:13).

According to Numbers 33 the children of Israel encamped at 42 different places from the time they left Egypt until they were on the brink of the Jordan River. A conservative estimate reveals that about one million people died in the wilderness. That means every day on average 68 people would die…2-3 per hour.

The New Testament book of Hebrews tells us why these people were cursed. “Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:17-19). Why were they cursed? According to Scripture it was because of unbelief. They had seen the power of God and yet, they still did not have faith.

We claim to believe in Him today—and yet, we complain. We are discontented. We seek something else rather than finding our solace in Him. We would all do well to heed the warning given in the very next chapter of Hebrews. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

God had saved them, and yet they still complained, grumbled, were disobedient, and were full of unbelief. Think about it: Almost two years from Egypt and walking around Mt. Sinai wasn’t enough to teach them humility and dependence on God. God says that even though they saw His glory and the signs in Egypt and in the wilderness of Mt. Sinai these people continued to test Him time after time with their grumbling and did not hearken to His voice or rest in His power. The implication is the wilderness wandering was to humble the people.

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
(Deuteronomy 8:2).

So the 40 years in the wilderness was a lesson about humility, obedience, and dependence on Him. It was about revealing their heart. What is your heart revealing during this trying time? Are you content in Him? Are you looking for ways to bless others. Or are you restless and complaining? Let me encourage you, take some time to find rest in Him!

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Don’t Take It Personal

Don’t Take it Personal

Have you ever felt like you just cared too much? Sometimes we do better when we are disinterested in than when we deeply care. Why? This is an emotional phenomenon known as attachment: when we identify with it to the point of ownership.We take everything said or done about the subject “personally.” If a decision is made against our desires, it deeply offends us, and we find ourselves obsessing. Instead, we need to be detached understanding that we can still care without letting it become personal.

personal control

Taking it personal? Remember, you never were in control.

Something like this happened to Samuel when the Israelites asked him for a king. First Samuel 8:6-7 says, “But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.’” God’s response teaches us a couple of things. First, we should not be so upset over losing something that we get depressed about it. Christians must rejoice in the Lord (Phil.4:4) and let Christ’s joy remain in us (John 14:11). We can’t do that if we allow earthly defeats to push out our joy. Second, God wants us to remember that all things belong to Him. Psalm 24:1 states, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” There is nothing that I truly possess in this life; it all belongs to God. I can never really lose anything, and there’s no reason for me to “take things personally.” Rejoice always because God is in control.

 

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It’s a Relationship

It’s a Relationship

The release of captive Israel from Exodus began with a God who loves this world.  His plan formed not with the thought of only one man, one sex, or one race in mind.  Rather God’s plan, created before the foundation of the earth was laid, targeted the whole world with no single soul being held of a higher worth than another in regard to the offering of salvation.  With this in mind, consider that God delivered the children of the Jacob to Mt. Sinai.  There in Exodus 20, Moses would begin to share God’s laws with the people.  The first of these, the Ten Commandments, demonstrate something critical about our God.  God’s commandments are built on establishing a relationship. The first four mentioned focus on a relationship with Him.  The next six indirectly demonstrate our relationship with Him through our relationship with man (Matthew 25:35-46).  For a few moments, I would like to consider our relationship status with God.

relationship God

Do you base your relationship with God on your own perfection?

A relationship with God has always required that the spirit of man desire to serve God and that the man walk in obedience to God (Romans 12:1).  In no circumstance has man ever “earned” his relationship with our Heavenly Father.  In the patriarchal age, Adam and Eve had a pleasing relationship with God until they were disobedient.  Noah, a preacher of righteousness, had a pleasing relationship with God walking according to all God had commanded in building the ark (Genesis 6:9,22; Hebrews 11:7).  Abraham was faithful to God (Hebrews 11) and he was called a friend of God.  These are all relationships prior to the Covenants.  Under the Law of Moses, Moses was in the presence of God often.  He was chosen to lead God’s people to the Promised Land.  Later, Moses and Elijah would appear before Christ when He was transfigured demonstrating their standing before God (Matthew 17:3-4).  David under the same law would be called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  These people sought to obey God and have a relationship with him.  All of them had sin as we have sinned (Romans 3:23). Obedience was required, but perfection at the hand of man was not.

The New Covenant era is not different in its requirement of obedience to have a relationship with God (Matthew 7:21, John 14:15, Hebrews 5:8-9).  In the same manner, as in prior ages, a relationship with God does not require perfection thru the power of man. Yet, some live as if they were in and out and in and out again in their connection to God when they come short in their behaviors or thoughts.  They live in a system of the flesh in which they operate as if they were earning salvation.  This is not what God has put before the Christian.  Christians have been transformed (Romans 12:2).  Why would we try to live in a manner which God does not endorse (Galatians 1)?  If you are a Christian you are not a sinner.  You are a child of God.  Your focus is simply to serve Him with good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17); your focus should not be continually upon your imperfection.  God’s relationship from the beginning of time has never been contingent upon complete obedience.  If it were, how could Enoch have been taken by God when we know that all have sinned (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5)?  God has made certain things perfectly clear in life.  First, if we seek Him, we will find (Matthew 7:7).  Second, if we are seeking Him, we will be rewarded (Hebrews 11:6).  Third, Jesus blood continually washes those who walk in His light.

A faithful relationship toward God is built upon love and obedience, but man’s status with God has never been built upon man’s behavioral perfection.  Yes, disobedience is recognized by God.  Yes, at times he has made an example of disobedience to show His displeasure with it.  However, in all ages God simply desires a creation who wants Him above all things (Matthew 6:33).  How are you living your life?  Is it one where you aren’t constantly agonizing where you stand with God?  Is it one where you aren’t trying to earn a salvation which you can never earn?  Are you living by the eternal quality: “love” (I Corinthians 13:13, I John 4:8) – Love for God and love for man?  If so, then continue forward in joy.  If not, break out of the cycle of the flesh and live with a spirit acknowledging the salvation God has provided.

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Two Philosophies of Preaching

Two Philosophies of Preaching

The clarity of the message of every prophet of God stands in marked contrast to much of the preaching done today. While it might be true that some have been too harsh in their preaching throughout all the centuries, so much of the preaching we hear today is far removed from the kind of preaching given by God to His people by His prophets.

confrontation preaching

How and why are preachers changing?

God’s instruction to Isaiah could not be misunderstood. “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isa. 58:1). God’s people were clothed in complacency and outwardly involved in worshiping God. Isaiah specifically mentions specific acts of worship—multitudes of sacrifices, burnt offerings, the observance of the Sabbath and monthly feast days, praying to God with outspread hands, assemblies of sacred meetings, the burning of incense and many prayers (Isa. 1:11-15). However, there was no leader among them who openly confronted their sinful hearts. This is why God told Isaiah to raise his voice with the astounding clarity of a trumpet and openly address their sinful complacency.

Albert Barnes, in his commentary about the commission God gave to Isaiah, describes the kind of preaching God wanted Isaiah and preachers today to do. “Speak loud and distinctly, so that the language of reproof may be heard. The sense is, the people are insensible and stupid. They need something to rouse them to a sense of their guilt. Go and proclaim it so that all may hear. Speak not in whispers; speak not to a part, but speak so earnestly that their attention will be arrested, and so that all shall hear.”

Our culture, especially among the younger generation, is characterized by conversations in a non-confrontational manner. This concept has become part of the philosophy in pulpits throughout the land. Where is that voice in the wilderness of the forerunner sent by God that openly addresses the evil in his world? John lived among a generation of vipers and unashamedly cried out against open immorality. “It is not lawful for you to have your brother Philip’s wife.” A question which should be asked in churches in America is, “How long has it been since you last heard a message with such clarity about marriage and divorce in the pulpit?”

Preaching has changed. Far too many preachers are like the religious leaders in Isaiah’s day. Every preacher today should solemnly read God’s charge to Isaiah. The reality is that the sophistry of human wisdom has become the norm. The world will never be truly converted to Christ without upsetting the souls of those immersed in complacency. Preaching should never be designed to gain the approval of men, but of God!

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Digital Bible Study Online Gospel Meeting

Digital Bible Study Online Gospel Meeting

Coming March 23rd, Digital Bible Study will begin hosting a daily Online gospel meeting during this challenging time for God’s people. Every day until the crisis is over, you can come to this page and connect to God and His people. We have organized 40 gospel preachers (and list continues to grow) who have graciously agreed to give their time to the effort of encouraging God’s people in a time of trouble. We hope you will use this effort as a daily point of connection to God’s family in the midst of great isolation.

Location:  facebook.com/digitalbiblestudy1

Digital Bible Study

Digital Bible Study Daily Online Gospel Meeting Beginning March 23

Confirmed Speaker List:

Eric Owens
Dan Cates
Wayne Jones
David B. Jones
Greg Dismuke
David Sproule
Jeff A. Jenkins
Melvin Otey
Barry Girder
Cameron Freeman
Eric Garner
Eric Lyons
Terrance Brownlow
Hiram Kemp
Dan Jenkins
Lee Snow
Nathan Franson
Tony Clay
Ralph Gilmore
Barry O’Dell
Taylor Robles
Steve Higginbotham
Chuck Webster
Matt Amos
Jeff Archey
Don Blackwell
Mike Bonner
Chris Butler
Stan Butt
Scott Cain
Aaron Gallagher
Nathaniel Ferguson
Jake Sutton
Phil Sanders
Scott Harp
Adam Faughn

……

Join us in sharing and spreading the Joy of the Word of God!

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