DCLM Daily Manna 9 January 2021 – Stop Complaining!
Topic: Stop Complaining!
Text: Jeremiah 12:1-6 (KJV)
1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
Key Verse: “Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?” (Jeremiah 12:1).
MESSAGE:
It was William A. Ward who said “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails”.
Jeremiah was complaining to God in our text about the continued prosperity and apparent fruitfulness of those that do evil, even while they continued in their wickedness. This makes those who live righteously and serve God think there is no profit in their righteousness.
Jeremiah also complained about the impact and devastation of the environment by wicked people. Fields are plundered and violence is done to animals to such inhuman extent that everyone feels unsafe; yet Jeremiah saw no immediate consequence for their actions. God asked Jeremiah to stop complaining, concentrate on his preaching and adjust his sails because things would grow worse in the future.
We can neither advance the cause of the gospel nor improve our lives through our complaints. And quite frankly, our complaints tend to limit our growth and adventurous spirit – a gift given to us by God. When Adam found himself in the Garden of Eden, there was no bank or existing industry for him to seek employment. He was simply to put his creative and adventurous spirit into the management of the resources available to him and generate value thereby.
We should concentrate on the task at hand rather than complain about the boisterous winds. Complaining about the poor handling of the economy and the failures of government, the moral decadence of the age and the general state of things will not improve anything. Let us put the time we spend complaining into better use. Let us channel our energy and resources towards the propagation of the gospel, which has the potential to change and transform sinners. We can only advance when we leave the shores of complaints to a new destiny of discovery.
Thought For The Day: Complaints have zero spiritual value.
The Bible In One Year: Genesis 26-28
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
