1 Corinthians 10:10 “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”
What’s wrong with a little complaining? A little grumble here; a little grumble there; here a grumble, there a grumble, everywhere a grumble, grumble. That describes the problem with complaining. It rarely stops with one grumble.
C.S. Lewis writes, “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others… but you are still distinct from it. You may even criticize it in yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then there will be no you left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine.” In other words, grumblers actually BECOME the grumble!
Grumbling is not harmless. Do you know Scripture says it’s one of the four reasons Israel failed to enter the Promised Land? Right along with idolatry, sexual immorality and testing the Lord. Paul wants the church to know that if grumbling could cause Israel to stumble, it can cause us to fall short as well (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).
So why do we whine? Why pout instead of praise? Why criticize instead of commend?
I believe the grounds for Israel’s demise listed in 1 Corinthians 10 share a common thread. Idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God and grumbling all reflect dissatisfaction with God’s provision. We would rather have our way, and have it now, than wait on His plan.
Right now I’m having a cup of coffee at my favorite donut shop. Honestly, it tastes awful. I’ve loaded it with as much cream as the cup can hold, but the bitterness persists. So now it’s both distasteful and lukewarm. I have a choice in this seemingly insignificant moment. I can dwell on how I got cheated out of my $2.10, or be grateful for the delicious salted caramel crème I’m consuming. Further, I can choose to be thankful for the opportunity to even be here at a public setting in an almost but not yet post-pandemic world.
And you know what? My gratitude causes the grumble to slink away and melt like a slug in the sunlight.
Friend, resist the “blah, blah blah” temptation when things don’t go your way. Don’t turn into a grumble. Become the praise of God.