Grumbling and Complaining

 

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 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, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (Php 2:12-16)

 

When we think of grumbling and complaining, Joseph comes to mind.  He had several serious trials in him life, but there is no evidence of him complaining to God.  We remember that he was his father's favorite son and Jacob made a beautiful multi-colored coat especially for Joseph.  In many ways the many facets of Joseph's life match the various colors of this cloak.  And it wasn't all bad. There were many bright spots as well as dark times.  Consider the many colors of Joseph's life:

 

1. Favored by his father.
2. Hated by his brothers.
3. Gifted with dreams and interpretation of dreams.
4. Brothers attempted to kill him.
5. Was sold into slavery.
6. Was trusted by Potiphar.
7. Potiphar's wife repeatedly tries to seduce him.
8. Was imprisoned.
9. Was given responsibility over the inmates.
10. Was able to help others escape prison.
11. Was unable to help himself escape prison.
12. Was given responsibility over managing the affairs of Egypt.
13. Was trusted by the Pharoah.
14. Was able to interpret Pharoah's dream.
15. Was able to manage the drought and save Egypt.
16. Was able to build Pharoah's wealth and power.
17. Was able to save Jacob and his entire family.
18. Was able to forgive and forget the sins done against him by his brothers.
19. He left a legacy through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim
20. He maintained his trust in God throughout his life. 

Certainly, there is much to praise God for in this wonderful life.  But there is much there that Joseph could complain about, but he didn't.

 

In our day and age many take a victim's mentality.  They focus on the hurt, imagined or real, which they have suffered.  They dwell on it- and certainly there is much that could be dwelt upon. We live in a fallen world.  Relationships are not as they should be.  Unresolved conflict is prevalent all around us.  Man's inhumanity to man is very real.  All of us have been mistreated by others.  Some of us have been seriously mistreated, much like Joseph.  Is it possible to "do all things without grumbling and complaining"? I think so.

 

If we get stuck in a victim's mentality, we will always focus on the negatives.  Even in the harshness of life there are always things to praise God for.  Joseph demonstrated this ability.

 

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. “So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Gen 15:15-21)

 

1. Joseph was able to forgive. We should be able to forgive others if we know that we have been forgiven by God.  (Mt 18:22) 

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Mt 18:21-22)

 

2. Joseph saw God's sovereignty at work. We must remember that God is sovereign and works all things together for good for those who love Him. 

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Ro 8:28-32)

 

3. Joseph saw the goodness of God. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, as He approached the cross, focused on the joy set before Him. 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (He 12:1-2)

 

All Scripture in this post were taken from The New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).