. COMPLAINING. "The devices of a Godless man will be brought to account, and a report of his words will come before the Lord as proof of his iniquity; no muttered syllable escapes that vigilant ear. Beware, then, of futile grumbling, and avoid all bitter words; for even a secret whisper will not go unheeded, and a lying tongue is a man's destruction." (Wisdom of Solomon 1:9-11) (NEB). 'You are never to complain of your birth, your training, your employments, your hardships; never to fancy that you could be something if only you had a different lot and sphere assigned you. God understands His own plan, and He knows what you want a great deal better than you do. The very things that you most deprecate, as fatal limitations or obstructions, are probably what you most want. What you call hindrances, obstacles, discouragements, are probably God's opportunities. Bring down your soul, or, rather, bring it up to receive God's Will and do His work, in your lot, in your sphere, under your cloud of obscurity, against your temptations, and then you shall find that your condition is never opposed to your good, but really consistent with it.' (H. Bushnell). 'Whenever, therefore, you find yourself disposed to uneasiness or murmuring at anything that is the effect of God's providence over you, you must look upon yourself as denying either the wisdom or goodness of God.' (W. Law).
"Do all you have to
do without complaint or wrangling. Show yourselves guileless and
above reproach, faultless children of God in a warped and crooked generation,
in which you shine like stars in a dark world and proffer the word of life."
(From Phil 2:14 "You must live at peace among yourselves. And we would urge you, brothers, to admonish the careless, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, and to be very patient with them all." (1 Thess 5:14 NEB). 'Surrounded by those who constantly exhibit defects of character and conduct, if we yield to a complaining and impatient spirit, we shall mar our own peace without having the satisfaction of benefiting others.' (T. C. Upham). "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Even as Jehovah freely forgave you, so do you also." (Col 3:13). "And when you stand praying, if you have a grievance against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you the wrongs you have done. But if you do not forgive others, then the wrongs you have done will not be forgiven by your Father in heaven." (Mark 11:25,26 NEB & footnote).
'One great characteristic of holiness is
never to be exacting "My brothers, do not blame your troubles on one another, or you will fall under Judgement; and there stands the Judge, at the door. If you want a pattern of patience under ill-treatment, take the prophets who spoke in the Name of the Lord". (James 5:9,10 NEB).
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