Are We Complaining Too Much?

(Num. 11:1)

Introduction:

I. I have a bad habit of procrastinating things and I tend to complain when I finally must go do those things that I was procrastinating.

II. We as Christians have a lot to be thankful for but how often are we complaining?

III. “Oh we have to go to church today, oh this song leader isn’t very good, oh I have responsibilities today, oh the preacher is preaching too long and I need to get to lunch”

IV. God has given us endless blessings and yet so often we complain.

Body:

I. Complaining accomplishes nothing good.

A. What good has complaining ever done?

1. The Israelites complained and they were still in the wilderness.

2. Worse they were still in the wilderness, and they were now in trouble with the Lord.

3. All complaining does is vocalize your own displeasure.

B. As Christians we are supposed to be lights to the world. (Mt. 5:14-16)

1. How is our light supposed to shine to others if they see us continuously complaining?

2. Do you think that when they see that attitude, they are going to want to become Christians at that point?

3. This leads to my second point.

C. What does accomplish something is prayer. (Jam. 5:13-18)

II. Complaining is not the attitude of a Christian.

A. As Christians we are supposed to be filled with joy. (Rom. 5:11)

1. God has given us our salvation through Jesus we should be happy about that.

2. The Ethiopian Eunuch went away rejoicing. (Acts 8:36-39)

3. Is the Joy of our salvation being clouded by our complaining?

B. We are to do all things without murmurings and disputing’s. (Phil. 2:14)

1. What reason does the apostle Paul give for this?

2. That we can be blameless and harmless and shine as lights to the world. (Phil. 2:15)

3. If we are murmuring and showing our displeasure, we cannot show our light to the world.

C. Our light is the key to spreading the gospel of Christ.

1. Is going to church such an inconvenience to us?

2. Is our service and worship to God an inconvenience worth being upset about?

3. If it is then we need to take a good long look at why we are here.

III. Complaining is displeasing to God.

A. We saw in Numbers 11 that the nations complaining was displeasing to God so much that the fire of the Lord consumed them. (Num.11:1)

1. Our complaining does not please God.

2. If it is not pleasing to God, we should not be doing it.

3. Our true goal in this life is to please God.

B. This example was left for us so we would not follow it. (1 Cor. 10:9-12)

1. Our constant murmuring and complaining can at some point become a sin.

2. Now not all complaining is sinful.

3. When we groan and complain about a righteous cause then it is not sin.

C. We should groan for some things.

1. Waiting for the coming of Christ. (Rom. 8:23)

2. We weep with those who weep. (Jn. 11:33-35)

3. We groan over our own sin. (2 Cor. 7:10)

Conclusion:

I. Is your life full of joy in Christ Jesus?

II. Or is it full of complaining for your inconveniences?