Complain little and praise much
mmalanga | May 9, 2006“And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.”—Numbers 21.5 (italics added) [ESV]
“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
—1 Corinthians 10.6 [ESV]
A wise man once said, “Complain little and praise much and you will have friends in abundance. Complain much and praise little and you will die alone.” That may not be eloquent, but it captures the essence of what was at stake when the people of Israel complained against God and against Moses in the wilderness.
There are at least six occasions when the people of Israel complained to Moses asking why he brought them up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness.[1] What is especially striking about their complaint in Numbers is their moaning about the food, the manna, God provided for them while they wandered through the desert for forty years. In very plain language they said; “And we loathe (detest) this worthless (vile, miserable) food.”
Every time I read Numbers I marvel at the Israelites’ capacity to be shortsighted, ungrateful, and childish. Lately, however, I have marveled at my own capacity to be just like them. The comment by the apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 10 reminds me it is not wise to spit at God or despise His gifts. Still, I have had my moments when I have been a champion complainer when I should have been a steadfast believer in God’s provision, faithfulness and mercy.
I know people who find it easier to complain about God than thank Him. I try, politely, to avoid such people. Even so, we all suffer from a version of spiritual Alzheimer’s disease when it comes to remembering the goodness and mercy of God: the same goodness and mercy that He promises will follow us all the days of our lives—even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death!
Over the years I have compiled a grocery list of reasons why I complain—uncomfortable circumstances, illness, fatigue, financial stress, lack of vision (a failure to see the big picture) and immaturity. And just as slowly I have compiled a grocery list of reasons why I should praise Him—God is gracious (Israel didn’t die in the wilderness through His neglect); God is faithful (every morning the manna was there with enough to carry them through the Sabbath when no manna fell from heaven); God provides (He gives me what I need as He defines my need, not what I want and I continue to learn the difference) and finally, God sees the end from the beginning (so I must trust that since He is leading me He will never lead me where the danger is so great I will be separated from Him.
Neither list is exhaustive, yet both remind me of the maxim: complain little and praise much. It is not eloquent, but it is effective.
You think about that.
MM
