Why Do We Complain?

Numbers 11:1: "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord."

In the "Valley of Humiliation," John Bunyan presents a portrait of discontentment
in his description of a shepherd boy.

"Now as they were going along and talking, they espied a boy feeding his father's sheep.
The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a very fresh and well-favored countenance;
and as he sat by himself, he sang:

"Hark, said Mr. Great-heart, to what the shepherd' s boy saith."

"So they hearkened, and he said:
He that is down need fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble, ever shall
Have God to be his God.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much;
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is,
That go on pilgrimage;
Here little, and hereafter bliss
Is best from age to age!"

"Then said their guide, 'Do you hear him?
I will not dare to say that this boy lives
a merrier life, and wears more of that herb
called heart's-ease in his bosom,
than he that is clad in the silk and velvet.'"

"Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6) is the divine commentary
on this wholesome and healthful attitude of the soul.
The sin of complaining and discontent is found throughout the Scriptures.
Is it fair to infer that godliness without contentment can be great loss?

Complaining disregards the divine presence of God promised to the Lord's children.

In their wilderness journey the children of Israel had the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night,
to go before them in the way (Exodus 13:21, 22).
It would defend them from their enemies. (14:19, 20)
It would show them where they should pitch their tents and when they should journey. (Numbers 9:15-23)
It was the outward, visible assurance of God's presence.

By day or by night they could look to the pillar above the Tabernacle, to assure them of God's presence
and of His going before them, and of His help against their enemies.
Moses had been given the promise of God,
"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." (Exodus 33:14)
Throughout the long wilderness journey it could be said of Moses,
"He endured, as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27).

Despite the divine presence, the people complained. (Numbers 11:1)
"They forgot God their Savior, which had done great things in Egypt." (Psalm 106:21)

In our newspapers and on our TV news, we have no visible indications of His presence with His people,
but we do have the reassuring and sure statements by our Saviour.
"All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…
And, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world (age)" (Matthew 28:18, 20).

God's Presence would be by His disciples in the upper room:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:15-17)

The sweet, wonderful, gracious Presence of the Lord is with us by His Spirit,
and whom we disregard when we complain and are discontented.

Complaining despises the promises of God.

The children of Israel had been let out of the iron furnace of Egypt by the strong hand of God,
to go to the land promised unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Exodus 13:3-5)
When dissatisfaction gripped their spirit they "despise the pleasant land" (Psalm 106:24),
and remembered only "the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions,
and the garlick." (Numbers 11:5)

Complaining causes them to desire the current onions and garlick in Egypt's hard bondage
over the freedom in a land flowing with milk and honey.
When we complain, we too can despise our Lord's promises;
and not only that of His present presence with us, but also of His future provision for us?
He did say, "Let not your heart be troubled… In my Father's house are many mansions."
(John 14:1, 2)

When Simon Peter, the spokesman for the other disciples, reminded Him,
"Lo, we have left all, and followed thee."

At once, Jesus answered, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents,
or brethren, wife, or children, for the Kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive manifold more
in this present time, and in the world come life everlasting." (Luke 18:28-30)
These are such ample promises for time and eternity.

Complaining discounts the provision God makes for us.

For the children of Israel there was daily bread, day by day, in the form of manna,
enough for everybody. (Exodus 16:4, 14-18)
To the hungry and grateful people to whom it came "it was like coriander seed,
while; the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." (Verse 31)

When they became disgruntled, they declared their contempt, "But now our soul is dried away:
there is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes." (Numbers 11:6)
By the that time to them "the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil." (Verse 8)
They had a taste of honey when they were delighted, and they had the taste of fresh oil
when they were discontented.

Does that alteration of taste caused by change of attitude seem far-fetched to us?
Or do we remember times when the Word of God was exceeding sweet to our taste,
and when, under the cloud of complaint we found it to be tasteless and commonplace?

Honey or oil -- depending upon our delight in the Word, or our discounting of it.
Without the Word, how weak and wretched we can feel; and with it, how sturdy and strong we are.
"Godliness, with contentment is great gain."

The children of Israel not only discounted the provision of God, but also desired what was destructive.
The divine commentary on their experience says, "They waited not for his counsel;
but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Psalm 106:13-15)

May God spare us from the "leanness of soul" that results from our complaints
and the insistence on our own desire!

Complaining displeases God. (Numbers 11:1)

Imagine an Israelite, who had been delivered from the bitter bondage of Egypt,
led by the pillar of cloud and fire, fed by daily manna, doing anything to displease his God and Savior.
It is recorded that the Lord "hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" (Psalm 35:27),
And that He delights to do good always unto them.
"for he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with gladness." (Psalm 107:9)

It is possible to be a disappointment unto our Lord by not believing Him,
for "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Of Israel it is said, "They believed not his word: but murmured in their tents,
and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord." (Psalm 106:24, 25)
Their unbelief displeased Him; and their complaining and murmuring hardened their ears to His voice.

Of the people of Nazareth it is recorded that the Lord Jesus "marvelled because of their unbelief."
(Mark 6:6)
They had seen Him and knew Him in His youth, they had heard of His wisdom and mighty works (6:1);
but they had only scorn for Him, saying, "Is not this the carpenter?" (Verse 3)

Of their attitude the Lord said, "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country,
and among his own kin, and in his own house." (Verse 4)
Such unbelief made impossible any deeds of mercy in their behalf!
Could that not be said of Israel as they were complaining in the wilderness.
And what about us who also have the Lord's presence, promises and provisions?

Complaining may be a natural part of our disposition, but contentment should become
a major characteristic of our Christian life.
The apostle Paul could testify, "Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, everywhere and in all things
I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." (Philippians 4:11-13)

I have learned, I have been instructed, I can do all things in Christ – that is the way
we can have contentment.
At the sunset of his life Paul said, "Having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
(1 Timothy 6:8)

We must turn from a complaining spirit, and the criticism that corrodes,
and from the dissatisfaction that displeases God, to a thankful attitude
and to "a merry heart (that) doeth good like a medicine." (Proverbs 17:22)
And to have the praise that brings pleasure to the heart of our Almighty God.

It is to be "content with such things as ye have: for he hath said,
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
(Hebrews 13:5, 6)

The World Is Mine!
"Today on a bus, I saw a lovely girl with silken hair.
I envied her, she seemed so gay, and I wished I was so fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the isle.
O God, forgive me when I whine,
I have two legs, the world is mine.

And then, I stopped to buy some sweets.
The lad who sold them had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so calm, and if I were late it would do no harm.
And as I left he said to me "I thank you, you have been so kind."
It's nice to talk with folks like you. You see, I'm blind.
O God forgive me when I whine,
I have two eyes, the world is mine,

Later walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew not what to do.
I stopped a moment, then I said, "Why don't you join the others, dear."
He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.
O God forgive me when I whine,
I have two ears, the world is mine.

With legs to take me where I'll go,
With eyes to see the sunsets glow,
With ears to hear what I would know.
O God forgive me when I whine,
I'm blessed, indeed, the world is mine."
-- By Joy Lovelet Crawford

Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L. White