Larry Calvin in his book, No Fear, tells the story of a priest who lived in a monastery where the vow of silence demanded that a priest speak only two words every six years. At the end of the first six years of silence one priest uttered the words: “Bed hard.” After 12 years he said, “Room hot.” After 18 years he said, “Food bad.” Finally after 24 years he exclaimed: “I quit!”
His superior immediately replied: “I’m not surprised that you would quit. For almost a quarter of a century all you have done is complain!” People who complain a lot usually use far more than eight words.
Why do we find it so easy to complain, to focus on bad news rather than good, to gossip about people behind their back rather than give them compliments, to dwell on products that fall short rather than work well? We had an expression in middle Georgia where I grew up to describe the professional complainer: “He/she was born in the objective case and lives in the kickitive mood.” If you are a person who complains about almost everything you should remember this: “A mule makes no headway while he is kicking; neither will you.”
The habit of complaining about everything in sight has been popular for a very long time. For example, approximately 34 centuries ago, complaining became the order of the day during Israel’s spectacular deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The Israelites should have offered to God their praise, worship, and wholehearted trust. Instead, they responded to His goodness by complaining, murmuring, and quarreling. Numbers 11:1 begins with these four words: “Now the people complained.” Spiritual amnesia had set in. On the heels of unthinkable miracles, with their pockets full of Egyptian jewelry, they had the audacity to complain that God had not provided five-star hotel accommodations for them while they were crossing the desert.
Complaining, whining, and thanklessness are ultimately not a response to our circumstances. Rather, it is our response to God. For 400 years the Israelites complained about their enslavement in Egypt. They complained when Moses came on the scene to lead them out of bondage. They continued complaining all the way across the wilderness. Their complaining wasn’t caused by their scenery; it was rooted in their heart.
The same is true for you and me. Know this: a heart of gratitude and thankfulness is not dependent upon our bank statement, our doctor’s diagnosis, or the praise we receive for a job well done. Thanklessness and complaining – regardless of our situation, even in times of suffering – reflect our heart. Ingratitude is sin, for it forgets God’s goodness. Spiritual amnesia is a deadly disease that threatens our faith and our joy even more than the possibility of having cancer. Ingratitude penetrates to the core and rots our heart from within.
Israel complained about their problems and ignored their blessings – and we also find that easy to do. Every time we are tempted to complain, we should look back upon our lives and remember:
- That Jesus Christ upon the cross paid the penalty for our sins.
- That God has protected us from making a shipwreck of our lives.
- That God graciously arranged for us to grow up in a godly family.
- That God awakened us to the ugliness of sin.
- That we walked away from a terrible car wreck or some other crisis years ago.
- That our wife (husband), mother, or sister survived a serious illness.
- That God graciously answered a prayer we prayed.
- That God gave us mentors and key friends who have enriched our lives.
- The countless other ways God daily touches and blesses our lives.
The Paper Pulpit 
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