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. Philippians 2:14-15
A few
days ago my husband Mark and son Jared traveled to Voinjama,
Liberia, to bring John-Mark and Sara their newly purchased vehicle. I was
pleased Mark could spend a few days visiting John-Mark's little family in their
home setting. He also used the time to teach a two-day seminar, "Witchcraft and the Bible," to Liberian believers.
To keep
the home fires burning, I stayed in Monrovia with Jonah. And I was OK with that until things
started going wrong. I could not get my cell phone to
charge properly, the city electricity went off unexpectedly, our personal
generator gave me fits, and then, because I wasn't having enough trouble, the
water pump was accidentally unplugged—leaving us unnecessarily waterless. I was
not a happy camper.
In fact, I must admit I had an attitude issue. According
to the The Expository's Bible Commentary, the world grumble is "unexpressed feeling of
bitterness or the smothered resentment that may express itself in a groan or a
sigh." I was guilty
last night of grumbling.
While
on the outside it would appear my grumbling was about a pathetic cell phone
charger, a quirky generator or the husband who left me responsible for
those things, it was actually more than that. My complaints showed my
lack of trust in the providence of God. After all, according to Romans
8:28-29, God uses these very things to grow me more and more into the
likeness of His Son. "And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
And
that, the knowledge that God can use all things in my life to increase
Christlikeness, should not only stop any grumbling and complaining before it starts, it should
fill me with praise. After all, in God's economy nothing is ever wasted—even
quirky cell phone chargers and generators with issues.
See Clutchin' Coffee.
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