"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:14
The children of Israel were constantly murmuring and complaining when they should have been trusting and praising. Many of them, therefore, never reached the Canaan of spiritual victory and blessing because the Lord could not tolerate such lack of resignation to His perfect guidance and leading. Still today, grumblers and complainers are never victorious Christians.
Too often people who watch the average churchgoer are offended by the conduct of those who claim to be children of God, for many are constantly unhappy, irritable, quarrelsome, and faultfinding.
No matter how disagreeable and unpleasant a task may be, Paul says it is to be done cheerfully as unto the Lord "without murmurings and disputings." I am sure we would all be surprised if we could hear a tape recording of our conversation for a single day. We would be amazed at just how much we complain, object, and murmur. Children fret about doing their homework or washing the dishes. Mother complains about the stack of mending and having to spend half her time "picking up" after the baby. Father comes home and makes bitter remarks about his "inconsiderate boss" and the difficulties of the day's work. And so it goes the whole day through. Often we complain so much that the joy of our Christian testimony evaporates in the fog of criticism and unhappiness. Hudson Taylor used to say, "If your father and mother, your sister and brother, yes, even the very cat and dog in your house, are not happier for your being a Christian, it is a question whether you really are one or not."
Instead of murmuring and complaining, let us follow the delightful admonition in Ephesians 5:19: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
"Bread For Each Day"
