Busted: 6 more excuses for complaining (Ch 11)

Thanks, Jeremiah Burroughs. Now you’ve taken away six more of my beloved excuses why it’s okay for me to complain. At least sometimes. My reasons are valid ones. Right? (Excuses # 1-7 here)

Wrong. It’s never okay to grumble against God OR his workings.

But isn’t it okay to grumble about the circumstances I find myself in? Or those annoying people around me? Nope, not those either. Grumbling is never excused.

Grouching and bellyaching about how terrible we have it is never the fruit of a contented attitude. But the good news is: there’s a way out. God promises to always provide an escape from any temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). That includes the temptation to whine and complain.

He’ll either give us his grace and strength to bear up under it, or else his wisdom and courage to do something about it.

Either way, no complaining.

Not even if…

8. If it were only a different kind of trouble, I wouldn’t be complaining.

• Do you think you can choose what kind of troubles may come?
• Might God know that this trouble is more fitting to help you in the long run?
• If you have such skill to manage your ship, shouldn’t you be able to guide it no matter which way the wind blows?
• Are you forgetting that God may have a special crown for you for enduring this particular trouble?

9. I’m only complaining that now I can’t help other people, due to my problem.

• But even if you serve only as a toe in the body, isn’t that still pleasing God?
• Doesn’t Christ value you, regardless of your service capabilities?
• Isn’t being a Christian itself a very high calling?
• Isn’t a “small” work done for God’s glory greater than a “large” work done for self-glory?
• Won’t there be more reward later for being a faithful servant and being “among the least”?

10. I could take it better if I just had more information.

• Doesn’t man tend toward pride when he knows how things will turn out?
• Isn’t it better to live in continued dependence upon God versus trusting in what you think your condition will be tomorrow?
• Isn’t it better to be sure in your mind of the most important things that can be known in Christ?

11. If I hadn’t gotten used to life being good, I wouldn’t be complaining about this bad thing.

• Should you hold it against God that he was so good to your earlier?
• Perhaps your previous prosperity was meant to prepare you for this adversity?

12. I’m only complaining because I worked so hard for this, then it fell through.

• Isn’t the greater the cross, the more obedience and submission is required?
• For what were you working hard? To become more obedient to God, or to achieve outward results?
• Wouldn’t it be a greater testimony of your love to God if you yielded yourself to him now, despite not getting the expected results?

13. But at least I don’t complain out loud; I keep all my grumbling to myself.

• Is it enough for your tongue to be silent, but your spirit to be noisy?
• Do you think God can’t hear you?

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Stripped of our excuses, what are we left to do? Next week: Chapter 12, How to Attain Contentment.