Quit Your Whining
by Paul Sheehan
One of the most popular books in the New Testament is the letter Paul wrote to the Philippians. It seems to be so well-liked because Paul has so many positive things to say about serving the Lord. The words joy and rejoicing are mentioned over 16 times. What is so unusual about this letter is that Paul wrote about having all this joy while he was in prison. As one reads the letter, one will notice that in the 104 verses, Paul does not complain one time about the circumstances that resulted from his following Christ.
Faced with all his trials and tribulations, listen to what Paul tells the Philippians. He tells us in Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and complaining.” He tells the brethren here in the first century who were facing various trials to serve Jesus and stop complaining. In today’s language, he was saying, “Quit your whining.” Yes, we are facing difficult times today with the virus and the new normal, but do as Paul instructed: “Just serve the Lord.”
How does one not, at times, get a little upset and feel like complaining? The answer is found in stopping and seeing how good you have it. Look at how good, and I mean very good, we all have it in the USA. Look at our jobs, our cars and trucks, our homes with heat and AC, our schools, grocery stores, police, firemen, clothes, entertainment, highways, planes, boats, restaurants, and on and on. We are so blessed beyond description, and these are only our physical blessings. We have even more abundant spiritual blessings, but what do we spend most of our time doing? That’s right, stop your whining and serve the Lord.
Let’s start right now, looking more and more at all our blessings, and learn to live with a few bad situations in our lives. In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul tells us, “Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to be abound everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and hungry, both to abound and suffer need.”
Never forget the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings. What caused God to get so angry with them? It was their constant whining. Constant whining is a sign of unbelief. We are told in Hebrews 3:19.
That is why today God is pleading with us as Paul did in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” Heaven will be a place for those who rejoiced in the Lord and stopped their whining. Yes, you will have occasions of despair and need at times. During these times, turn to God in prayer for help. Be resolved today to look at your troubles as stepping stones to Heaven. Whining never cured a disease, helped somebody hungry, or mended a broken heart. Rejoicing will help you and those around you, so please quit your whining and start rejoicing.
