“Satan is ever seeking to inject that poison into our hearts to distrust God’s goodness -especially in connection with His commandments. That is what really lies behind all evil, lusting, and disobedience. A discontent with our position and portion, a craving for something which God has wisely held from us.”
A.W. Pink
Dear Believer,
Think of where you are right now. The job you have, or don’t have. Think of the state of your marriage and your family. Your financial situation. Chances are, they are not perfect. Or even what you’d hope they would be. We have expectations of how we’d like our life to turn out and maybe they do. But perhaps they don’t. If they do, we praise the Lord. But if they don’t? Does it make it harder to praise the Lord? At times it does. Why? Because we are under the delusion that we know what is the ultimate good for ourselves and others. And we make plans to make it so. We have long been told that we make our own destinies. We need only to follow our heart, trust ourselves, etc. But when we do, we discover that we are only human. We don’t know it all and we can’t do it all. When things go well, we congratulate ourselves, but when they don’t, we blame others, the universe, the weather, and even God. We enter the realm of discontentment. We grumble, “We deserve better!” “How can this be happening to me?” “It’s not fair!”
Humans have been dissatisfied since the beginning. Adam and Eve were not even content with paradise! It could be said that it is a part of our DNA. Moreover, it is such a part of the fabric of our society, that we have complaint departments, constant protests, and even ads that encourage us to have “it your way”. In the words of Willy Wonka’s Veruca Salt, “We want it and we want it NOW!”. Of course, when we don’t, we’re not happy. So we complain. Let’s look at the definitions below:
discontent: lack of contentment; dissatisfaction with one’s circumstances.
grumble: complain about something in a bad-tempered way.
complain: the expression of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
murmur: a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction.
To summarize, it is a private or spoken dissatisfaction with something.
So, what is so wrong about that?
Consider:
1. God is the Sovereign Creator
God has created everything for a purpose. He has created every human being to be in a given time and place. Where we are, right now in history, in each specific circumstance, is where we have been placed. A.W Pink in describing God’s Sovereignty says, “[He is] subject to none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His Word expressly declares: ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’(Is. 46:10).” He goes on to say that “divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things ‘after the counsel of His own will.’(Eph.1:11).”
“The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.” Prov.16:4
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Rev.4:11
Therefore, it is important to understand that we are made for His purpose and glory, not our own. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” 1 God works for all things to work for good, according to His purpose. This does not mean what we want or what always makes us happy. And it is not for our purpose or plan. It all goes back to the creative, causative rule of God. We may want to be something, do something, and achieve something, that God did not plan for us. This may bring discontent. But we only see the scope of our lives in a limited way. We are not Sovereign. We are not all-knowing, all-wise, and eternal. So we cannot know all the reasons why God has withheld some things from us. Or why He has ordained others to come into our lives. We do not always understand the how, but we do know the why. It is for our ultimate and eternal good. Could it be to protect us from harm? Protect us from a circumstance that is way worse than the one we are in? To teach us to dependence and trust? If we truly believe that God is God, then we must trust that He knows what He is doing.
2. It is disobedience to God’s commands
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” and Philippians 2:14 commands, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing”.
The above Scriptures are not suggestions, Believer; they are commands. Not accepting God’s will, but wanting our own will to be done is disobedience. We pray for God’s will to be done, not ours. We are to not only accept what His will is for us, but we are to thank him for it! When we complain, we are essentially saying, “No thanks God, I don’t want this. You don’t know what is best for me. I do. And it’s not this.” When we fret, whine, or just have general discontent, we are not trusting in God and His goodness. When we are dissatisfied, whether silently or verbally, we do not believe He is Who He says He is. We are not fully trusting in His omniscience, providence, and love for us. And when this happens, we sin. When our selfish desires are conceived, they give birth to sin. It then grows and brings forth death.2 This same distrust and discontent is what caused Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. It was this desire of the flesh, of the eyes, and the pride of life3 that caused them to disobey God. We know how that turned out: the fall of humanity.4
So you see, discontent, grumbling, or whatever else we name it, is not such an innocent act or unharmful behavior. It is a sin against Almighty God. And so we are called and challenged to “Do everything without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” Phil. 2:14-15.
Consequently, let us think before we speak against the One who made us. And again, in the words of A.W Pink,
“Reject any suggestion that God is unduly severe with you. Resist with the utmost abhorrence anything that causes you to doubt God’s love and his loving-kindness toward you. Allow nothing to make you question the Father’s love for His child”.
The LORD bless you,
Bianca
