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| Stop Complaining & Start Doing By Roger A. Scully, Jr. |
It is so easy to complain, and it seems that we have no shortage of those willing to take up this chore of
simplicity. Whether it is realized or not, however, when people complain, they discourage those around them
in an immeasurable manner. It was because of the complaint of the 10 spies that we read, “so all the
congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel
complained against Moses” (Num 14:1, 2). And what does complaining profit? The church ends up being filled
with a defeated attitude and a disappointed spirit. The complaint of the spies in Numbers 12 led to the
wilderness wonderings, and Israel’s defeat at the hand of the Amalekites. The complaint of Job led to his
rebuke (Job 7:11). In fact, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:10 not to complain. Well, if we are going to succeed in
our work, we don’t need men and women who are complainers; we need people who are willing to start doing
something about the problems we face.
THERE WAS NO COMPLAINING ABOUT THE GOSPEL NOT BEING SPREAD IN THE EARLY
CHURCH. Think of the command of the great commission, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature” (Mrk 16:15). Suppose people would have said, “The world is a big place, we can’t do this.” Do
you suppose that there were people during the first century who were not doing their part to carry out the
greatest command in the world? Yet, we read in Colossians 1:6 that the gospel had been preached to “all the
world.” How was this accomplished? It was accomplished because men like Peter, Paul, Timothy and others
were not complaining, but doing. They were going about teaching “publicly and from house to house” (Ac 20:
20). They realized that complaining about the problem wouldn’t give the solution. In contrast they knew that if
they would “plant the seed” and “water” it that “God would give the increase” (1 Cor 3:6). What about you?
Are you complaining or are you doing?
PAUL DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT PREACHING TO PEOPLE IN THE “SIN CITY” OF HIS DAY.
Historians describe the ancient city of Corinth as that which would make Bourbon Street look like Sesame
Street. That which would make Las Vegas look like Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Suppose Paul would have
complained that the people there did not want the truth of the gospel? Suppose after he was rejected there
on his first preaching attempt that he would have said, “The church will never grow here”? Yet we read, “many
of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” (Ac 18:8). Because he didn’t complain but did we can
read the beautiful words, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not
be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were
some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:9-11). What about you? Are you complaining or doing?
I was once told that capable men are not rare, but faithful ones are. Might I add, complainers are not
rare, but those willing to do something about things are. Are you a complainer or a worker?
| Street Address: 1019 Clothilde St., Morgan City, LA 70380 Mailing Address: PO Box 1756, Morgan City, LA 70381 Phone: (985) 384-3489 |