Complaining

Philippians 2:14-16 NLT
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Everywhere I go people are always complaining about something or someone. Often it centers on the political situation in this country. It seems everyone has a better way for things to be done. It is so easy to look at a situation and think we could do a better job.

It even happens in churches. The congregations complain about the leadership. The leadership complains about the members that aren't volunteering to help. Sometimes the complaining is even about other churches as one is compared to another.

How can we be Christ centered and complain about anything? The enemy loves to see us in conflict with each other. He loves to see us in competition with other groups of believers. The more we are wrapped up in petty stuff, the less we are focused on what God has for us to do. After all, how can we hear God when we are so wrapped up in earthly situations?

We should be spending our time with God instead of keeping on top of the latest news. We should be asking Him what our next step should be instead of listening to the current gossip in and out of church.

I believe God wants us to be the best we can be. Sure we are not Jesus. But we have Holy Spirit living in us. It is this fleshly self we need to die to. Next time you want to turn on the news or listen to the latest gossip, pick up His word instead. That is the news we need to be focused on. Do that and the complaining will cease.