What Is the Opposite of Grumbling?

Have you ever had to make decisions that directly affected other people? (Of course!) Has anyone ever complained about your decisions? Anyone who has been a parent can answer, “Yes.” Bosses and teachers and those who work in service-oriented organizations—they can all answer, “Yes.” Surely you’ve heard a variation of the saying, “You can’t please everyone.”

One biblical character stands out in this respect, a leader who was careful to follow God. Yet, he sometimes received strong complaints and grumbling from the people he led.

God told Moses to go to the Pharaoh of Egypt and request Israel’s release. Pharaoh accused the Israelites of being lazy, and he increased their workload. When the word reached the Israelites, they complained to Moses for the difficulty they had to endure. (Exodus 5.)

When Israel had come out of Egypt, they were encamped at the Red Sea. They complained to Moses out of fear for their lives when they saw Pharaoh’s army in pursuit. (Exodus 14.)

After crossing the Red Sea and setting out on their journey to Mount Sinai, Israel grumbled at Moses when they came to water that was unfit to drink. (Exodus 15.)

Days later Israel complained to Moses that they were about to starve to death on their journey. They remembered meat and filling meals in Egypt. (Exodus 16.)

Once again Israel grumbled against Moses because of a lack of water. They accused Moses of bringing them out of Egypt to die. (Exodus 17.)

After Israel had sent spies into the Promised Land and heard their report, they followed the faithless men who were afraid. That night Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron wishing they had all died in Egypt! (Numbers 14)

Later Korah complained against Moses. Leading a rebellion, he challenged Moses’ authority as leader of Israel. (Numbers 16.)

How did God view all the complaining and grumbling of Israel? He called it quarreling and said that Israel was testing Him. (Exodus 17:7)

Complaining and grumbling are serious offenses against God. Go back and read the chapters noted. You will find self-centered people who lacked genuine faith in God. This is also brought out in the Book of Jude where his readers are warned about some who had crept into the church. Jude described them as “grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts….” (Jude 16.)

The grumbling considered here is not about legitimate legal complaints or real injustices. As all the examples show, this is about fault-finding and selfish attitudes. Grumblers are always looking inward because things are not working out the way they would like. They lack faith in God’s provision. They lack faith in God’s design for authority. They lack faith in God’s instruction. In reality, they trust in themselves.

Making application is challenging:

• Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
• Children are to honor and obey their parents. (Eph. 6)
• Christians are to submit to governing authority. (Romans 13)
• The church is to submit to local leadership, the elders. (Hebrews 13:7)

Of all people, Moses could have grumbled. Grumblers are arrogant, but he was humble. The Apostle Paul could have complained about his sufferings, but he chose contentment.

How did you do in 2020? 

Do you need a fresh start in 2021? 

Don't test God. 

Stand opposite grumbling by embracing faith, humility and contentment.


Mark Stinnett

December 27, 2020

How Do You Teach a Child Mercy?

We live at a time when the tolerance of ideas different from your own is promoted. Along with that is the tolerance of behaviors, values and beliefs that are different from your own. I remember a time when I personally benefitted from a tolerant boss. My mistake cost our organization several hundred dollars, but my boss did not make me pay for my mistake.

This has all made me think about mercy in the Bible. Is mercy the same as tolerance?

I found out that it is not. In the Bible we see God’s mercy when something wrong was done. For justice to be served, there should be consequences. Yet, mercy is shown when the person does not have to bear the consequences. He does not receive the justice he deserves.

When I made my costly mistake, a natural consequence might have been repayment, suspension or termination. My boss showed mercy by not making me pay the consequences.

So, how was that different from tolerance? Well, actually it was tolerant, but there was more. My boss had a conversation with me about my mistake and how I could avoid the same mistake in the future. In other words, the mistake was a real mistake. It mattered. There were real consequences, but I was personally shown mercy by not having to pay the consequences.

By itself, tolerance is not mercy. Tolerance ignores justice saying, “I accept you, stay as you are.” Tolerance is about acceptance. Mercy is about justice.

Children often misunderstand justice. When they do something wrong and need discipline, they interpret the discipline in terms of acceptance. A parent removes a privilege or introduces something unpleasant as discipline. Then the child thinks he is not accepted and not loved.

Parents must understand the difference between tolerance and mercy; the difference between acceptance and justice. When we turn to Scripture we never see God tolerating sin. He has been tolerant of mankind, but ultimately justice will be served. (Hebrews 10:30)

Some people would say that God’s justice is intolerant. The really crazy thing is that God’s demand for justice for mankind was shown through His love for mankind. Every person has sinned against God which has resulted in a sin-debt. Yet, God loved us so much that he volunteered to pay our sin-debt for us by sacrificing His own Son. That was justice and mercy in the same sacrificial act. So, justice was served through a loving act of mercy.

Teach a child tolerance by ignoring wrongdoing, or by making excuses for them when they have wronged another person. Let them think that doing wrong does not matter or that there is no real right and wrong. (I accept you. Stay as you are.)

Teach a child mercy by first being consistent in discipline. Teach a standard of right and wrong and based on the character of God. (Check out Exodus 34:6-7.) Mercy is shown when you choose to not apply consequences after a wrong has been done. However, mercy is taught only if the child is truly sorry for their wrong and if you communicate carefully that the wrong is still wrong. Your child must be old enough to understand the concepts of justice, consequences and sorrow (even is those are not the words they might choose). You teach mercy best when you are the one your child has hurt by doing wrong.

You can teach mercy only if you have learned to show mercy and not just tolerance.

Tolerance alone instills the heart of Satan; 

but mercy, the heart of God.


Mark Stinnett

December 20, 2020

Losing Control to the Spirit

Being led by the Spirit of God sounds like a good idea. But what does it really mean? What do I have to do to be led by the Spirit? 

For many people that idea is scary. Most of us have been programmed from birth with the All-American “you-can’t-tell-me-what-to-do” attitude. That tends to bump up against the idea of being led or controlled by the Spirit of God. So, what does it look like when the Spirit leads me?

Being led by the Spirit suggests a leader-follower relationship. It is more than thinking, “I’ll let God’s Spirit drive while I sit in the passenger’s seat.” Following involves active participation that is both willing and intentional.

When Paul wrote about being led by the Spirit he set up a contrast between the “deeds of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” He then made a revealing shift in the whole idea of being ‘led’ by the Spirit; a life and death contrast:

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

—Galatians 5:24-25

Living by the Spirit sounds all-encompassing, doesn't it?. In other words, there is not a part of your life that you keep for yourself for your own personal control. Being led by the Sprit is to live by the Spirit. You must hand over all of your life to God so that the Spirit of God can have control. It’s for your own good.

Our human nature rebels against such a notion. We want to choose. We want to govern. We want to be in control.

So, is there anything that you have difficulty giving over to God? Where do you want to retain control? Some people have problems in these areas:

American freedom: 

What has God done in the past when a nation becomes corrupt, immoral and violent? What if God takes action against America? Will you demand your way or submit to God’s leadership through the Spirit? (This is not an anti-America stance; I’m pro-Spirit!)

Financial independence: 

Are you willing to give God everything...except your bank account, retirement account, financial decisions? Through observation we are led to believe that money solves our problems. Solomon even validated that notion in Ecclesiastes 10:19. (But you should also read Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 and 7:12.)

Food lust: 

Yes, lust. Food lust has the following demands: Lots of food, food storage, variety, easy access, and ‘what I like.’ Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Some people eat to live; but others live to eat.” (Usually said at a feast, followed by uproarious laughter to justify, or mask, one’s overeating.)

Sexual desires: God created us as sexual beings and sexual cravings are real. Many people want to be in control of their sex life, but in reality, they want nothing to control their sexual desire.

Being led by the Spirit (living by the Spirit) means that I give all of my life to God. It means that I sacrifice those pet areas where I want to maintain control. 

• Being led by the Spirit means that I am not focused on my rights, my freedom, my nation. 
• It means that I have a healthy attitude toward money; I am not selfish, but generous, kind and benevolent. 
• It means that my food cravings do not control me. I can be content with not having what I want, when I want it and the variety I want. I think more about God than my belly. 
• It means that I am not focused on my sexual cravings even when my body is telling me it’s hungry. Marriage comes before sex. Then, Paul tells me, in marriage I am to satisfy my spouse, not myself. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5)

Being led by the Spirit is about exchanging my will for God’s will. So, whatever may be your pet area of desire, you need to willingly and intentionally lose control to the Spirit of God. You belong to Christ. 

Mark Stinnett

December 13, 2020

God IS in Control

“It shows that God is in control.” 

That was a comment made in a Bible class on the Book of Daniel. The comment was in reference to the prophesied fall of a great kingdom.

In my last blog I showed from scripture that God…

• Is not a controller of human puppets;
• Does not orchestrate all matters;
• Does not assign destiny to every person.

The point was that God allows people to make choices, even when those choices go against Him and His divine will. Yet, when we look at the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, there is no question but that God orchestrated some things. It is clear that God has used His authority and power to accomplish His will. So, it makes sense to say, “God is in control.”

Of course, some people don’t like the idea of God being in control. Yet, as in a family with small children, it is always better when the parents are in charge. Here are a few ways that we benefit from God being in control.

Job and the Accuser: In the opening chapter of the Book of Job Satan accuses that Job is of good character and that he reveres God because God blessed him so much. Satan suggested that if his wealth, family and health were removed, Job would curse God. Because of his confidence in Job, God allowed Satan to bring calamity and pain into the life of Job. Yet, Satan could not proceed without God’s permission. Satan cannot make a move against you without God’s permission. Satan submits to God.

Temptation: Consider the following verse.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

—1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB95)

God knows your weakness and he will not allow a temptation in your life that you cannot overcome. God protects you.

Judgment: Consider the following:

Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

—Romans 12:19 (NASB95)

Ultimately, God will bring justice to all people. He has the authority to do so. What a relief that we (humans) do not have to figure it all out!

Good for God’s People: 

(From Romans 8)

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. (v. 28)

If God is for us, who is against us? (v. 31)

Paul concluded by explaining emphatically that nothing in this world or the unseen world can separate us from the love of God. (vv. 38-39)

The End and the Beginning: The Apostle John recorded a lengthy vision from God. He saw a place of destruction at the end of time a place called the lake of fire. In it were cast death, Hades, the devil, and all evil. Yet, just as soon as John saw these things, he saw a new heaven and new earth and a new Jerusalem prepared for God’s holy people; a new beginning for God’s holy people. (Revelation 20-22)

God does these things because He has all authority and all power! God IS in control, and that’s good. As a result, we have hope!

Mark Stinnett

December 6, 2020