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| “Do everything without grumbling or arguing” |
| —Philippians 2:14 |
A wise older man once told me:
“The easiest thing a person can do is to grumble or complain.”
I soon realized that he was right. It is very easy to greet each day of life with a negative attitude, wondering what will go wrong next. In fact, I have long held on tightly to a very negative way of looking at the world. I have often described myself as someone who not only sees the glass half empty, I see that the water is dirty and the glass is cracked.
In contrast, as recorded in Philippians 2:14-16, the Apostle Paul urged the Christians at Philippi to set aside their negativity:
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 labor in vain.
Paul wanted the behavior of the Philippians to reflect well on the truths that he had taught them. He didn’t want their negative attitude to become attributed to him. Paul also knew it was very much in the best interests of these beloved “Christ’s-ones” to face each day with a positive-leaning heart and mind.
Let today become a “grumbling-free day” for each of us. As we move forward through this day with a positive attitude, we are bound to bring joy wherever we go. Our positive attitudes will reflect well the love of God that dwells within us. That will certainly make us very different from our argument-filled culture.
Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, November 12, 2015
