MURMURING

(Phil 2:14) "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:"

There is probably nothing that discourages any more than to hear someone going about “murmuring”. Regardless of whether you are on the job, at play or in worship service if someone begins to murmur your mood for what ever you are doing is quickly disrupted. It seems as though our attention span will not stay with us. There is little wonder that the apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write; "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" Nor do I find it surprising to see that “murmuring” and “disputing” are both forbidden.

Although “murmuring” about your job is bad enough, “murmuring” against God is even worse: (Rom 9:19-20) “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? {20} Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" Here Paul asks the question who are you that you should reply [I.e. murmur] against God. We need to always remember that we have been formed by God, we did not form God. You will even find those who will “murmur” about their physical body which was created by God. Let us always be thankful unto God for our bodies which we are to use in service unto Him.

Have you ever heard someone “murmur” because of a service they are asked to perform unto God? Sure you have! But this is nothing new: (Mal 3:14) “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?" Maybe they have never actually spoken these exact words, but sometimes actions speak louder than words. I know that the Lord appreciates your attendance at each of the worship services but just think about how much more God would appreciate you using the talents He has given you! But even sadder is the situation where someone never shows up to worship and serve God. Without a doubt we all miss our brothers and sisters in Christ when there aren’t there [friends even if you attend worship service somewhere else] there is a void that is felt by everyone when even just one of God’s children is gone. Maybe you too have asked “What profit is it to serve God?” Have you considered eternal life? It is a great loss to lose your soul: (Mat 16:26) “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Some will even “murmur” against you when you are doing that which is good and for doing right. Jesus and His disciples experienced this. The scribes and Pharisees murmured against the disciples of Jesus: (Luke 5:30) "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" When we read this we must do so remembering who Jesus came to seek and save. Was it not the very ones with whom they were eating? (Mat 18:11) "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." Again the Pharisees and scribes “murmured” against Jesus for eating with sinners: (Luke 15:2) “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Jesus did not do this to join them in their sins but in an effort to save them. And just before they crucified Jesus they again “murmured” about the company He was keeping: (Luke 19:7) "And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner." Although we must be cautious about the company we keep we like Jesus must try to teach them the good news concerning Jesus Christ and the salvation that can be had in His name!

One last exhortation concerning “murmuring”; I.e. “murmuring provokes God. The children of Israel often “murmured” against Moses: (Num 14:2) “And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (Num 14:11) "And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?" We can learn here that when we “murmur” against someone [not even against God] that God is angered. So the next time you feel like “murmuring” about anything give yourself a moment to stop and think about what you are doing.