Day 18: The High Cost of Grumbling
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
In today's reading, Paul reflects back on the children of Israel in the wilderness and identifies four specific sins they committed, all of which had dire consequences. What are those four sins?
- v. 7
- v. 8
- v. 9
- v. 10
The sin referred to in 1 Corinthians 10:10 relates to incidents recorded in Numbers 11:1; 14:1-28; 16:11-35. Take a few moments to skim through these passages to give you some context.
Every time I read these Old Testament accounts, I am convicted of how my murmuring and complaining displeases the Lord (and how merciful He is not to judge me as he did the Israelites!).
Grumbling is the opposite of thankfulness. Like gratitude, it starts in the heart and expresses itself in our words. It grows out of the sin of discontentment--not being satisfied with what God has provided.
Philippians 2:14-15 says we are to "do all things without grumbling," and that when we are obedient in this matter, our lives shine the light of Christ into our dark world.
Are you guilty of the sin of grumbling? If so, confess that to the Lord; ask Him to forgive you and to grant you true repentance. Purpose in your heart to "put off" all complaining and to "put on" a heart of thankfulness.
GRATITUDE IN ACTION
Ask God to make you sensitive and alert to situations over the next twenty-four hours where your natural response would be to murmur or whine. Ask Him for grace to give thanks every time you're tempted to grumble. (If you have a pattern of complaining, it probably won't disappear in a day! This is one exercise you'll need to do intentionally day after day, until you "default response " has changed from grumbling to gratitude.)
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