Does Your Heart Murmur?
by Pastor John Frederickson
After
high school, I worked in a huge plant that employed thousands. Four
gals from my high school worked there also, so we began sharing lunch
breaks. However, one of them was constantly negative. Nearly everything
out of her mouth was a complaint about something or someone, and it had a
negative effect on the others in the group. It was depressing just
listening to it all. After nearly a week, I decided I simply wouldn't be
around them any more.
God's
children of faith are not immune to a complaining spirit. When Moses
was sent back to Egypt to deliver Israel out of cruel slavery, the
Israelites repeatedly complained. Even a chance at freedom should have
brought appreciation. But after finally being miraculously released,
Israel murmured (meaning "to grumble") against Moses when Pharaoh's
armies pursued them. Later "the people murmured against Moses" over a
lack of water (Ex. 15:24). Then while in "the wilderness of Sin," they
murmured over a lack of food (16:1-4). It had become a pattern of life.
When
God promised victory over the inhabitants in Canaan, they once again
murmured in disbelief that God would give the victory (Num. 14). God's
anger was so kindled that an entire generation, except for Joshua and
Caleb, perished without seeing the Promised Land. Paul refers to this in
1 Corinthians 10:10 warning the believers: "Neither murmur ye, as some
of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer."
Complaining
is a dangerous, negative habit. It embitters the soul, sours the
spirit, ignores the rich blessings of God, and robs one of the joy of
life. It also unnecessarily makes life miserable for those around us,
becomes a poor testimony to the lost, and poisons our outlook on life.
Perhaps, worst of all, it spreads like an outbreak of the flu to others,
who, in turn, mirror this negativity.
Simply
put, God hates a complaining spirit. Paul warns the saints at Philippi
saying, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked...nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"
(Phil. 2:14-15). It is not possible for us to be blameless before the
Lord nor man if we have a complaining spirit. Ask someone today to hold
you accountable any time you are being negative, then purposely practice
being positive in your speech and outlook.
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Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Kinta, OK 74552
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