Developing an attitude of gratitude #5: stop grumbling!
Imagine a world where an attitude of grumbling was replaced by an attitude of gratitude. What a world that would be?
As a modern society, we seem to dismiss positivity as childish and naive. Cynicism is so much more sophisticated. We don’t know what to do with expressions of joy, but complaining and moaning, that feels so much more ‘real’. Anyone remember Polyanna, that little girl who saw the best in everything? She had every reason not to. But this little girl with such a positive outlook on life changed lives. Others were transformed by her attitude of gratitude.
Allow me one moan for a moment: I am so sick of people moaning all the time! It seems to me we all have so much to be grateful for. I know there are tough situations and people in life. I know life is sometimes a struggle. But facing whatever we face with an attitude of gratitude rather than an attitude of grumbling seems to be a way of rays of light shining into the darkest of corners. We drag ourselves down with our negativity. I for one don’t want to live like that any more.
So some of you will have already dismissed me as a Polyanna. I’ve had that before. You don’t have to listen to me. Let’s see what Paul has to say about grumbling in his letter to the Philippians.
Therefore, 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:12-18
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”
Yes! Yes, yes, yes!
Ditching the complaining is the way to become blameless and pure. Stop grumbling. Stop arguing. Yes, be childlike. Each one of us is a child of God. Cynicism plays no part in a child’s life. This generation, this modern society, has got it all wrong. They focus on what they do not have rather than all they do have. However much they accumulate, they never have enough. They are never satisfied, never content. They are quick to complain when things aren’t quite as they desire.
It’s time to turn that around, to model a different way of living, to shine like stars in the sky. We do this by holding on firmly to the word of life, Jesus.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Jesus showed us how it should be done, how life can be lived to the full. Each one of us is a work in progress. As we learn to follow and obey the way, the truth and the life, God will continue to work in us ‘to fulfil his good purpose’.
When people look at you and me, what do they see? When people find themselves among a group of Jesus’ followers, what do they hear? When people visit our churches, what do they experience? Are our lives and interactions overflowing with joy and positivity, or drowning in grumbling and arguing?
Shine like stars in the sky.
That’s the calling.
Be a shining star, not a black hole today.
