"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Phil. 2:14-15First and foremost, the verse says that we are to do all things without complaining and disputing. Does that leave room for a time when it is acceptable to complain or dispute? No! In every single thing we do--enjoyable or not--we are not to complain. If someone asks us to do something: let's not complain about the work load or our busy schedule. When we are stuck cleaning up after a fellowship, let's not grumble and whine. When the line at the bank or Wal-Mart is too long, let's remember this verse, because we are to do all things without complaining.
But why?
Scripture doesn't always answer our 'whys'. Sometimes, it's the "because I said so" rule. If God says it, I either do it or don't do it (depending on what He's said) simply because HE said it. In this section of Scripture, though, we are actually given the why, and it makes so much sense to me.
As Christians (children of God who have been washed and set apart from the rest of the world), we are to look different. Paul told us not to be conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2). No, we're to look different. So go back to Philippians. In the midst of this crooked and perverse generation that we live in, we are to stand out---to be different--to shine as lights in the (dark) world. And HOW can we do that?
Do all things without complaining and disputing.
When we stop complaining and we stop disputing, we start becoming blameless and harmless. We start letting our lights shine brighter.
This week, do your best to guard your tongue. Keep yourself from complaining and disputing. Be gentle, peaceable, and kind. Be a beacon of light in this world of darkness. By simply cutting these two things from our lives, we can mimic Christ's example more closely.
**For one more post on complaining, go here.
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