“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8
Over the last four days how many times would you say you griped and complained about something or someone?
If I may be so bold and ask, was it because you were inconvenienced? Maybe your plate was full, which may I again be so bold and say because you made it full. Jesus doesn't bog us down with busyness we do that on our own. It's a choice! So you gripe and complain about being busy and not having enough time or enough help with all the things YOU have to do and get done.
Maybe your kids are involved in a ton of activities and sports and you are responsible for getting them to and from. Plus you have to get them home, get homework done, fed, bathed and put in bed. Which again may I be so bold to say, you allow them to be involved in everything! You make that choice, no one else does. Jesus does not tell you to put your child in every sport or activity. He says if it comes before Me or takes away from Me, it has become your idol.
Maybe you griped about something in your home, like your washer and dryer being outside, or your house is not big enough for everyone living in it. Maybe you griped and complained because your house is a mess and it is just one more thing you have to do because no one else will help you do it. Maybe you griped and complained because your house is not full of all the "stuff" you want it to be full of, or the furniture you have is old...Maybe you even griped and complained about your vehicle or the clothes you have in your closet, or supposedly don’t have.
Maybe you griped and complained about your finances, or not having anything to eat in your house, although your pantry and fridge are full!
Maybe you griped and complained about your job, your boss, your coworkers, your employees, your students. Maybe you griped and complained about your pay or your position.
Maybe these last four days you griped and complained about a friend, a family member, your kids, or your spouse.
May I be so bold to ask you, are you griping and complaining because you are focusing on yourself? I mean that really is the reason we gripe and complain in the first place isn't it?
What if every time you complained God revealed to you just how blessed you were, yet how ungrateful you are being. Would you react differently?
What if every time you began to utter a complaint about being too busy God replied with, “Well I am also busy, so I won’t be able to protect you, go with you, shower My mercy on you, or have time for you when you pray.”
What if, every time you griped and complained about taking your kids to and from, God revealed to you a mother who would give anything for her son and daughter to be able to walk so they could be in an activity. What if, He revealed to you a child who couldn’t see, or had a disability and would give anything to be able to do what your children can. Would you still gripe and complain?
What if, every time you griped and complained about your home and the things in your home, God revealed to you, a family who just lost their home and everything in it. What if He revealed to you a child who never knew where they would be, or if they would even have a roof over their head that night. Would you still gripe and complain for having a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, a couch to sit on, and a TV to watch?
Do you know if we would take our eyes off of ourselves for a second we would see how many people around us are actually homeless and wander from home to home?
What if, every time you griped and complained about not ever having anything to wear, God revealed to you a child whose family can’t even afford clothes so they wear the same thing every day, and dirty because they can’t afford to wash their clothes. What if He revealed to you a man or woman who freezes at night because they literally don’t have enough clothes to wear? Would you still gripe and complain about the clothes in your closet. What about the little boy or girl that wears clothes to small or way to big, or even torn and ragged, because that is all they have. Would you still gripe and complain?
What if, every time you complained about cleaning your house, God revealed to you a mother diagnosed with cancer bed ridden because of the chemo, who would give anything to muster enough strength to clean her home. What if, He revealed to you a woman who just had a stroke and lost functioning in her left side, who today would give anything to be able to clean her house, would you still gripe and complain?
What if, every time you griped and complained about not having anything to eat, God revealed to you just how many people in this world really are starving and have nothing to eat, would you still gripe and complain? What if the only meal you ever got came from the trash, or from the school cafeteria, or from someone nice enough to give you food. Would you still gripe and complain?
What if, every time you griped and complained about your job, coworker, salary, position, or student, God revealed to you a man and woman who just lost their job, their salary, their position, everything. What if He took yours from you, would you still gripe and complain?
What if, every time you griped and complained about a friend, a family member, your spouse, or children, God revealed to you a woman who just lost her entire family because of a drunk driver. What if He revealed to you a husband and wife who just lost their child to cancer. What if He revealed to you a mom and daughter who lost their husband and dad and sister and daughter in car wrecks three years apart. Would you still gripe and complain?
What if every time you griped and complained about your marriage, God revealed to you a man who just lost his wife, or a woman who just lost her husband and now has no one. What if He revealed to you a woman who is beat to near death almost every week she lays on the ground praying someone will find her and save her. What if He revealed to you a husband who loves his wife so much he cries every night because she is addicted to drugs or alcohol. What if He revealed to you a husband who is holding his dying wife or vice versa, would you still gripe and complain about your spouse not helping enough, yet who loves you, protects you, provides for you and supports you?
The reality and sadness of all of this is, He reveals it to us EVERY single day, yet we still manage to focus on ourselves instead of on our blessings and those in need. We teach our children more about griping and complaining than we do about being thankful and selfless. We teach that busyness is more important than spending time with the Lord and as a family.
All that we have, we don’t deserve. Yet we have become so comfortable with griping and complaining that we miss all the blessings the Lord has given, especially His mercy. Not only that but we miss out on what God wants to do and use us for.
We miss out on just how loving and blessed we are, because we let the world and self-tell us we need more; this isn’t good enough, their problems are not our problems, there are too many people to help, there is just no way, not enough money, not enough...
May I be so bold to ask you today to focus on those less fortunate than you. Focus on just how blessed you are to even be alive and have everything that you do.
Is it possible for us today to put ourselves aside and serve others with a genuine heart, because we are in love with the One who has given us life? We can only proclaim His greatness to the world when we have hearts that are thankful and attitudes and actions that are selfless.
Jesus make us uncomfortable. Actually go beyond that and remove us from our daily routines and our daily focus, which is self. Jesus open our eyes to see just how blessed we are to even be alive, to even exist. Help us to be so uncomfortable that it makes us sick to think there are those who have nothing that we will go and offer them all that we have. Jesus move us out of our comfort zones and into faith. Faith that is selfless and giving, for then Your greatness will be proclaimed. Amen
