Whiners, Wimps, and Warriors

WHINERS, WIMPS, AND WARRIORS

1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Not every follower of Christ is alike; not every O.T. Israelite was the same. Among those who are identified by their connection with God, there are different levels of spirituality. God expects us all to be obedient and diligent, to change our lives according to a common faith, and He judges our success without respect of persons. By our response we show our value: Will the Word make us into “precious stones”, or are we merely “wood, hay, stubble”? Each of us has been given an opportunity (every one has “talent(s))”; we are all a type of “soil” (wayside, stony, thorns, good ground); we are to “work out our own salvation”...while the goal is the same for us all, the extent to which we achieve it is, in a significant way, up to each one. We do not all rise to our potential – it has always been that way...When confronted with divine demands and expectations, men react in different ways:

Some are WHINERS:

For them, it is always something or somebody else that hinders their full obedience. Or, it is the degree of difficulty in performing the task assigned to them. Or, there is something more needed which they have not been given. “If things had just been different”; “if I had this or that talent, resource, or opportunity, etc.”; “God, you are asking too much from us”.

The Israelites were “WHINERS” --

1 Cor 10:1-12

-- after their deliverance from Egypt – Exodus 17

– when told to conquer Canaan – Num 13 and 14

– when outside their “comfort zone” – water, meat, etc., too much manna

David had to guard against it when faced with the prosperity of the wicked...Ps 73

– the workers in the vineyard were whiners when they complained about their wages – Matt 20:10-15

“Whiners” are not pleasing to God. 1 Cor 10:9 “murmuring” (Cf. Phil 2:14)

Some things about “whining” – complaining, or murmuring...

Shows a lack of gratitude for our blessings – no matter what others get, we always get more than we deserve.

It may indicate envy and jealousy..(or, as in Mt 20, covetousness)

Shows an unholy focus on self, and a lack of confidence in God.

Some are WIMPS:

2 Tim 1:7

For them, it is a struggle to act decisively, or take a stand when called for in being loyal to truth and right.

Wimps are people who are unable to confront error, or those in error, to let their light shine when doing so puts them at risk, or would mean going against the popular side.... (some people use “wimpiness” to cover up an agenda to actually engage in unlawful behavior)

Accepting his version of things in Exodus 32, Aaron was a WIMP.

He professed to be pressured by the people to take an action he knew would be an offence to God.. Evidently, he KNEW better, but was unwilling to hold out for the right. Rather than take ownership of his consenting to their request, he blamed it on them.

Based on his own account, King Saul was a WIMP.

When confronted with the captives and animals brought home from killing the Amalekites, he blamed to people for the animals...(1 Sam 15).

David’s brethren, and all Israel, were WIMPS before Goliath. 1 Sam 17

The people on Mt Carmel were WIMPS.

1 Kings 18

When faced with deciding between God and Baal, and Elijah challenged them to declare themselves, they “answered him not a word”.

The mother and father of the blind man in John 9 were WIMPS.

Asked by the Jews about the source of the healing of their son, the Bible says they would not answer “for fear of the Jews”...

Pilate was a WIMP.

He tried to avoid taking sides regarding Jesus – “washed his hands”

Peter was TWICE a WIMP.

When he denied the Lord...Matt 26:66 - 69

When he changed his eating habits for “fear of the circumcision” – Gal 2

And there Barnabas was a wimp, too, for not contradicting Peter...

“WIMPS” are in danger of hell fire – Rev 21:8 – the “cowardly”

Some preachers are “wimps” when it comes to making the hard decisions needed to be of use to the brethren.

Some parents are “wimps” when it comes to family leadership and necessary training (Prov 22:6; Eph 6:10-4)

Some are WARRIORS:

They stand and fight; they confront and defeat error; they take responsibility for their actions, answer for their deeds, do the right thing, and actively support the kingdom and kingdom people..

The list is long:

Shem and Japhteth were warriors on Noah’s behalf when he was a helpless drunk.Gen 9

Joseph was a warrior when he resisted the temptations of Potiphar’s wife – Gen 39

Caleb and Joshua were warriors when they begged the people to obey God – Num 13 and 14

David was a warrior when he faced Goliath – 1 Sam 17

He was a warrior when he refused to kill Saul...

He was a warrior when he accepted responsibility for the incidents surrounding his sin with Bathsheba..

Barnabas was a warrior when he stood up for Paul to the brethren in Jerusalem – Acts 9

Peter was a warrior when he accepted Paul as a “dear brother”, even after Paul had publicly rebuked him...2 Pet 3:18

Warriors are not always the most spectacular, or the most noticeable – they are the ones who gladly fight their own individual fight to be acceptable to God,

In my understanding of God’s expectations for us, these are not three categories of ACCEPTABLE service to God.

“Whiners” (murmurers) are condemned – 1 Cor 10:1-11

“Wimps” lack the substance to please God – Rev 21:8

While “warriors” may or may not wage acceptable war – and God tells us who is a “good soldier”!