Come plain, do not complain

Why do we complain?

When things do not work as we expect them to, or move in the direction we think they would, the natural reaction is to grumble at the situation and find fault with everyone in and around it. It is so easy to see the errors somebody in the team made, and the failures of leaders. This is followed by regrets and so many "could have done" that does not change the current situation.

Let us see a classic example

The Israelites are a classic example of what it means to complain, how stressful it is for leaders to have followers who complain, and how God sees complainers. In Numbers chapter 13, Moses sent out spies to check out the land and bring reports of what they saw. Caleb gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. He concluded by saying "“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”  And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They concluded by saying "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”.

The reaction of the Israelites in Chapter 14 to both reports reveals something powerful about complainers. The story reads that that night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”  And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

What do complaints do to us?

How could they have thought of choosing a leader who will take them back to Egypt? It was such a ridiculous thought to have, and an unbelievable thing to say, but such is the heart of a man or woman given to complaints. Every discomfort or pain births thoughts and words that are far away from what is righteous and pleasing to God.

Complaints blind our eyes from seeing the many miracles that God has done to bring us to where we are. It blocks our ears from hearing what God is saying in the immediate and we are unable to see forward and past the pain and fears. Complaints open our mouths to saying unpleasant things about our leaders whom God has appointed and about God the giver of all good gifts.

What should a Christian do?

Paul in his letter to the Phillipains admonished that believers do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Nothing helps the leader of a church or organization like members who do every task happily and faithfully without murmuring or grumbling. (Philippians 2:14-16)

In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives an instruction to not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. A Christian must not grumble because of the fear of God's wrath. Numbers 11 reads that when the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

Finally, James says Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9) Believers in Christ are not allowed to grumble against their leaders, against God, and even against their brothers and sisters in Christ, because this too will be judged.

Come plain, do not complain

Jesus said these words very clearly and we can hold on to these words "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Do not complain, plainly ask what you want God to do for you. He wants the best for you and if what you ask is following his will, he will do it for you. He cares about you and is already looking out for you. The same goes with your leaders and brothers in Christ, always communicate simply what your concerns are, and trust that they do not intend to hurt you by their actions or inactions. In doing this, you will be working in peace with all men even as we earnestly wait for the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.