Dark clouds and sunshine Part 2

On Wednesday I talked about the importance of not complaining. You can read that post by clicking here if you would like. Today I'd like to talk about why it's important that we aren't complainers.

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:12-16

Did you catch that? Right after Paul says not to complain we find the phrase SO THAT. This phrase should make you go back and reread what you just read and put it all together. The reason we need to not complain is "so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation."

It's not hard to look around and see we live in a crooked and depraved generation. By not complaining we are doing one thing that makes us different from the world...one thing to be a little more like Jesus wants us to be. We can be shining stars to those around us. If we complain and gripe just as much as the person behind us in the line at the supermarket, are we really being any different? Maybe the people around us would take notice if we chose positive words to speak to the cashier instead of the normal complaints.

This reminds me that you never know who is watching or who is listening to your murmurings and complaints. I'd much rather have a kind word or be humming to myself as I go about my business than to have a scowl on my face and murmurings on my lips that someone else notices.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by today!