Complaint is an opportunity
I don't like it. I'm not comfortable. It is inconvenient. So I keep complaining when I speak without my knowledge. I should not complain. .
In Exodus 17:3, we see the Israelites complaining to Moses. The reason they complained to Moses was because there was no water for them to drink (v. 1). It was then when the Israelites “set out from the Desert of Sin” and “camped at Rephidim” (v. 1). At that time, they argued with Moses, "Give us water to drink" because they had no water to drink (v. 2). Upon hearing this, Moses said to the Israelites: “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?” (v. 2) But the thirsty Israelites complained to Moses, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” (v. 3) To what extent they complained to Moses was they were almost ready to stone Moses (v. 4). Why did the Israelites complain to this extent? I find the answer in verse 7: “… because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?” The Israelites complained to Moses because they didn’t trust God. Although the Israelites had already experienced the miracle of God making the bitter water into sweet water at Marah when the Israelites went into the Desert of Shur and were traveling in the desert without finding water for three days (15:22-25), they complained to Moses because they didn’t trust God (17:3). Upon hearing the complaint, Moses cried out to God: “What am I to do with these people?” (v. 4) At that time, the Lord answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. … Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink” (vv. 5-6). “So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel” (v. 6).
In Psalm 37: 1, 7-8, the Bible tells us three times not to complain. In other words, the Bible tells us not to envy the evildoers and the workers of iniquity who are prosperous in their own ways (vv. 1, 7). As I meditated on this, I remembered Psalms 73. The reason is that many years ago before an elder died he asked me. 'Why the righteous suffers and the wicked prosper?’ and God led me to meditate on Psalms 73 and enabled to answer his question. So whenever I meditate on the theme of “the prosperity of the wicked,” I remember Psalms 73. The reason is because the psalmist Asaph was envious of the arrogant when he saw the prosperity of the wicked (Ps. 73:3). When Asaph saw that the wicked have no pain in their death and their body is fat (v. 4), they are not in trouble as other men not are they plagued like mankind (v. 5), the evil conceits of their minds know no limits (v. 7), he had nearly lost his foothold (v. 2). In particular, when he saw that the wicked were always carefree and increase in wealth (v. 12), he said, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (v. 13). When the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper, we Christians can envy the wicked enough like Asaph or David. Not only can we be envious, but we can even be angry by seeing the prosperity of the wicked (37:8). And we can complain in dissatisfaction (vv. 1, 7, 8). However, in Psalms 37: 1, 7, 8, the Bible tells us not to complain for three times. What is the reason? The reason is because “it leads only to evil” (v. 8; cf. 73:15). In other words, we should not complain because when we see and envy the wicked, we will complain in dissatisfaction and commit sins against God. The reason why we should not complain about the prosperity of the wicked is because the wicked will be cut off (37:9, 22, 28, 34, 38) quickly (vv. 2, 36). To what extent it will be cut off quickly, the wicked will soon be cut down like the grass (v. 2). In Psalms 73, the psalmist Asaph came to realization that when he entered the sanctuary of God (73:17). What did he realize? It is the final destiny of the wicked (v. 17). What is the final destiny of the wicked? It is ruin (v. 18). The wicked will be destroyed suddenly (v. 19). Like we despise a dream after we awake from sleep, the Lord will despise the wicked as fantasies (v. 20). Those who are evildoers will surely be cut off (37:9). Those who are cursed by the Lord will not only be cut off (v. 22) but their offspring will be cut off as well (v. 28). “The posterity of the wicked will be cut off” (v. 38). We will see the wicked being cut off (v. 34). That is why we must not look at the prosperity of the wicked and envy them and complain to God.
What should we do without complaining? First we must trust in the Lord (v. 3). And we must dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness (v. 3). And we must delight ourselves in the Lord (v. 4). Then God will give us the desires of our heart (v. 4). We must commit our way to the Lord (v. 5). If we trust in Him, He will do it (v. 5). We must rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him (v. 7). This is because we are waiting for the Lord (v. 9). And we must be humble (v. 11) and blameless (v. 37). Then we will inherit the land and will delight ourselves in abundant prosperity (v. 11; cf. v. 37).
If we don’t like it, we will be dissatisfied. When dissatisfaction builds up, we start complaining. And when we start complaining, we habitually complain without knowing ourselves. The reason why we habitually complain is because of dissatisfaction in our hearts. And the reason why we are dissatisfied is because we don't have what we need or want. And when we don't have what we need or want, we are finally complaining to God because we don't trust that God will provide what we need and want. If we live with confession of faith that “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” (Ps. 23:1), then we will not complain in unbelief even when we are in need. And if we have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Phil. 4:12), then we will not complain even when we are in need. We will not complain even when we have “a thorn in my flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). The reason is because God's grace is sufficient for us (v. 9). I hope and pray that we give thanks to God because of God’s sufficient grace in our live rather than complaining.
“Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and Thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!”
(“Thanks to God”, verse 2).
With gratitude for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the condition for thanks in all circumstances,
Pastor James Kim