Doing All Things Without Murmuring And Disputing

So far in this series on "Shining As Lights In The World", we have been given both direction and hope direction in the form of the admonition: "Work out your own salvation..."

"Hope" in the assurance that "it is God who works in you..." But now we have a "warning," and found in Php 2:14, it is that we "Do all things without murmuring and disputing."

The need for this warning should become more apparent as we proceed in this lesson, but first let’s consider...

MURMURING

THE DANGER OF "MURMURING"...

Murmuring is defined as: "To complain in low mumbling tones; grumble."

The people of Israel "murmured" frequently throughout their wilderness wanderings, and many were destroyed because of it!

1 Corinthians 10:10–11 NKJV

nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

In describing those who would be apostates, "murmurers" are included in the description!

Jude 3–4 NKJV

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 16–19 NKJV

These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

Not only are our souls at stake, but when did anyone ever go about a task seriously all the while "complaining in low mumbling tones"?

a. E.g., an employee at work

b. E.g., a student with his or her homework

c. Or a Christian who is to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"!

How can we then "shine as lights" if we are seen to be a group of complainers?

REPLACE "MURMURING" WITH "THANKSGIVING"!

When a person is murmuring, it is an indication of dissatisfaction. But a Christian has so much to be thankful for, including:

Salvation in Christ Jesus, which includes every spiritual blessing -

Ephesians 1:3 NKJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Assurance of a Heavenly Father who understands and will provide our needs -

Matthew 6:31–33 NKJV

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Hebrews 13:5–6 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

How about the help of God, who "works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure"

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

If anything, the people of God should be known as people who are filled with "thanksgiving", not "murmuring"! Consider what Paul wrote to the Colossians:

We should thank God for our inheritance -

Colossians 1:12 NKJV

giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

We should abound with thanksgiving -

Colossians 2:6–7 NKJV

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Be thankful for the peace of God ruling in our hearts

Colossians 3:15 NKJV

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Give thanks to God the Father through Jesus Christ -

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Be vigilant in prayer with thanksgiving -

Colossians 4:2 NKJV

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

It is this "attitude of gratitude" will help us "shine as lights in the world" much better than murmuring, grumbling and complaining!

How do people see us? As "murmurers" who complain about the economy, the government, everything? Or as people, who though we see much evil in the world, also see much good, and are known for being thankful?

Another potential for hindering our ability to "shine as lights in the world" pertains to...

DISPUTING

THE DANGER OF "DISPUTING"...

The word "disputing" simply means: "arguing; disputing". It is not describing the discussions of differences between individuals who seek to find common ground, but rather the sort of divisive "wrangling" condemned in

1 Timothy 6:3–5 NKJV

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

2 Timothy 2:14–16 NKJV

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Titus 3:9 NKJV

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

Such disputing can devour those in the body of Christ, against which Paul warned -

Galatians 5:15 NKJV

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

It can also destroy our ability to convince the world concerning Jesus! -

John 17:20–23 NKJV

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

BEING DIFFERENT IN HOW WE HANDLE OUR "DIFFERENCES"...

There will always be difference among brethren. We come into the kingdom with many different backgrounds and perspectives. It will take a while until we all develop the "mind of Christ" and the "oneness of mind" for which Paul pleaded in

Php 2:2

Until then, we can still "shine as lights in the world" in the way we handle our differences!

With the attitudes of gentleness, patience, and humility

2 Timothy 2:23–26 NKJV

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

With the qualities of longsuffering, forbearance, and forgiveness

Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

With the willingness to forego personal liberties

1 Corinthians 8:13 NKJV

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

We can truly "shine as lights" and make a positive impact on the world for Jesus, if we can: Disagree, without being disagreeable! Be different in the way we handle our differences!

CONCLUSION

Too much harm has been done in the past by the way we have dealt with differences, and the tendency to complain If we can only take to heart the warning of Paul and other scriptures against "murmuring" and "disputing". Perhaps the harm can be undone and those who wear the name of Christ can truly "become light bearers in the darkness”

If we will only let God truly work in us. Helping us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Then perhaps we will be more successful in developing Christ-like characters that will really "shine as lights in the world"!