Why Is Complaining Such A Big Deal To God?

WHY IS COMPLAINING SUCH A BIG DEAL TO GOD?

Phip. 4:8

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: WHO DO I SHOOT?

1. A new soldier was on sentry duty at the main gate. His orders were clear. No car was to enter unless it had a special sticker on the windshield.

2. A big Army car came up with a general seated in the back. The sentry said, "Halt, who goes there?" The chauffeur, a corporal, said, "General Wheeler."

3. "I'm sorry, I can't let you through. You've got to have a sticker on the windshield." The general said, "Drive on!"

4. The sentry said, "Hold it! You really can't come through. I have orders to shoot if you try driving in without a sticker."

The general repeated, "I'm telling you, son, drive on!"

5. The sentry walked up to the rear window and said, "General, I'm new at this. Do I shoot you or the driver?"

6. Sometimes, the trick in times of war is knowing who to shoot. In the heat of battle, armies frequently experience casualties due to "friendly fire", and the church suffers in the same way.

B. TEXT

1. “Now 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.” Num. 11:1

C. THESIS

1. We’re going to look tonight at the practice of complaining, Paul’s remedy for a healthy mind, and steps to new thought patterns.

2. The title of this message is “Why Is Complaining a Big Deal to God?”

I. THE CASE AGAINST COMPLAINING

A. MANY SEE COMPLAINING AS BENEFICIAL OR INNOCUOUS

1. To most people complaining is not a big deal. People think complaining is a natural part of life, a way to blow off steam, it makes us feel better, and helps develop camaraderie with our friends – we share the same negative experiences.

2. Even some professional counselors think complaining is A GOOD THING! Psychology Today (4/23/16) featured an article, “The Value of Complaining.” One blog, philforhumanity.com, published the piece, “Complaining is Good for You.”

3. Is this true? Is complaining actually GOOD for you? If so, then why does God get angry with complaining? Evidently God knows something about complaining that we don’t.

B. REASONS COMPLAINING IS BAD

1. A WASTE OF TIME. Since complaining isn't solutions-oriented, a complaining session doesn't make anything of value: it’s a waste of time. [Dave Stuart Jr.]

2. IT EXAGERATES THE PROBLEM. This was evident in Numbers 14. To the 10 spies, the people of Canaan weren’t just 3 feet taller, but “giants!” The walls of the cities weren’t just tall, but “walled up to the skies!” It’s the tendency of complainers to exaggerate their problems for sympathy or attention.

3. IT SPREADS THE NEGATIVE TO OTHERS.

a. We cause others to experience our bad view. We don’t need to hide our heads in the sand, but neither do we need to know everything bad that happens in the world. Too much sun makes a desert; too much water makes a flood. What we need is balance. Don’t go looking for trouble; enough will come to you on its own.

b. “We have no more right to put our discordant states of mind into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness, than we do to enter their houses and steal their silverware.” - Julia Moss Seton.

c. Happiness is a choice. So is contentment! BUILD UP the Body of Christ, DON’T TEAR it down. If you’re a part of something, then SPEAK WELL OF IT, as far as is possible.

4. IT BREEDS DOUBT AND UNBELIEF. Complaining is focusing on the problem to the exclusion of God. Faith in God’s ability and compassion are omitted. Therefore much complaining is atheistic – there is no God to save.

5. OUR CONFESSION CAN SAVE US (Rom. 10:9) OR NEGATIVELY AFFECT US. “…you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth” Prov. 6:2. Saying negative things about ourselves can help them come to pass because we’re including them in our possibilities.

6. IT’S TOXIC TO YOUR PROGRESS. Leadership coach Rick Tamlyn explains that complaining has a TOXIC EFFECT ON our ability to PROGRESS. Your progress as a Christian is killed by a complaining spirit, because you’re not developing the Spirit-filled nature (love, joy, peace…) but the CARNAL nature.

7. BRING INTO QUESTION GOD’S CHARACTER – whether He will provide for us or not. Complaining is a form of ingratitude; we’re saying God’s not taking care of His business good enough.

8. But worst: A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE BECOMES INTERNALIZED INTO A NEGATIVE PERSONALITY! Ultimately the habit of complaining can become a permanent feature that turns us into bitter, negative people.