November 8, 2025
Once upon a time, a conscientious man decided to take his faith to a deeper level by joining a monastery. One of the requirements was a strict vow of silence. Every seven years, the monks were brought in for a two-word statement.
The first time the struggling monk appeared before his superiors, he said, “bed hard.” Seven years later, when asked for his statement, he responded, “bad food.” After twenty-one years in the monastery, he said to his superiors, “I quit.” “Well, I’m not surprised,” said the head monk, "all you’ve done since you’ve been here is complain.”
While this story may generate a chuckle, complaining is no laughing matter. It seems harmless compared to other more significant transgressions. Yet, its consequences can be quite serious.
Take the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness. They complained at the Red Sea as the Egyptians approached. They grumbled at Marah because of bitter water. Later, they fussed because of a lack of food. At Rephidim, they grumbled because there was no water. They complained at Kadesh-Barnea when the spies reported giants in the land (Exodus 14:10-12, 15:23-24, 16:3, 17:3, Numbers 14:2).
Moses nailed it by saying, “Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord” (Exodus 16:8). As a result, they remained in the wilderness for 40 years. With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, those twenty years and older never entered the Promised Land (Numbers 14:22-23).
Certainly, there are those occasions in life where complaining is acceptable, perhaps even therapeutic. Job cried out, “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning” (23:1, NIV). And who could blame him, considering the tremendous suffering and loss he endured? Weighed down by the tremendous pressures in leading a rebellious people, Moses asked God, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?” (Numbers 11:1, NASB). David, known primarily for his eloquent words of praise and worship, lamented, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1, NASB).
One can expect to endure such seasons. The key is, don’t remain there. Complaining can be devastating and debilitating when it becomes a way of life. “This too shall pass.” Relief comes to those who rely upon God.
In the end, Job was restored to an even greater position. Moses went on to lead the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land. By the end of that Psalm, David could say, “I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (vs. 6). Though his situation had not changed, his outlook had. The focus became the Lord rather than himself. As a result, delight overtook despair.
Consider the man who murmured that he had no shoes, till he met a person who had no feet. The Bible commands us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world… (Philippians 2:14,15, NASB). And by all means, don’t quit. For the believer, the best is yet to come.
___
Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
Share with others
