Ep. 18 | No Grumbling Allowed | Philippians

Listen in as Pastor Eddie Blalock shares today’s daily devotional featuring Philippians 2:14-18. Let’s be Formed by The Word together!

Ready to connect? You can send us a message through our website theorchardcc.org, or email Pastor Eddie Blalock at eddie@theorchardcc.org. You can also follow The Orchard Community Church on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected, and find more content on our YouTube channel.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Formed by the Word, a podcast where we don't just read the Bible, we invite it to shape our lives. In each episode, Pastor Eddie Vlaylock will provide daily devotionals seeking to connect real scripture to real life. We'll be starting with the book of Philippians. This incredible letter clearly reveals how life in Christ shapes a resilient faith and a joy that is not dependent on circumstances. So wherever you're listening, whether you're driving, working out, or just scrolling for something meaningful, lean in, open your heart, and let's be formed by the word together.

SPEAKER_00 0:38

I don't know if you've noticed, but complaining is one of the easiest spiritual habits to develop. We complain about traffic, we complain about weather, politics, slow Wi-Fi, we complain about long lines, even church music, schedules, you name it, it's almost automatic. If someone recorded the background commentary of your thoughts yesterday, how much of it would sound like gratitude? Or how much of it would sound like complaining? Let that sit in for just a moment. Most of us don't think of ourselves as complainers. But if our internal monologue and subtitles were shown to us, we might be surprised. Well, I'm convinced that grumbling is often subtle and internal before it ever becomes vocal. You remember Eeyore from Money the Pooh? Nothing is ever quite right with Eeyore. It's always cloudy, even when it's sunny. Now, this may be funny in a cartoon, but it's not so funny in a church. So Paul, in this next passage in his letter to the Philippians, tells us very clearly, do not do anything by grumbling. Why? Because the complaining spirit doesn't change your mood, it changes your very witness. Now it'd be nice if redemption would automatically remove complaining, right? Wouldn't it be wonderful if when we got saved, a button was pushed and we no longer complained, we no longer murmured, we we were always cheerful and always accepting, but unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. I think we see evidence that goes all the way back to Israel in the great Exodus. You remember that from your Old Testament days? Just a quick summary. God had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. They had been there for 400 years and they had been crying out for God to deliver them. And finally he sent Moses, and Moses led them out of the land of Egypt. God split the Red Sea so that they could walk through on dry ground. And then after they got on the other side, he supplied them food by giving them manna and later a quail. And he provided water from a rock and he protected them from their enemies. And what did they do? They grumbled, they complained. It was never enough. Well, today we're in the second chapter of Philippians, and in this short section of scripture, Paul's going to be quite blunt with the church. He's going to make a very clear command and a very good challenge. And I think both of them are worth our attention today. So let me begin reading in verse number 14 and read down through verse 18. Paul writes, Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. By holding firm to the word of life, then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. In the same way, you should also be glad and rejoice. Now let's take a few moments and make some observations about that scripture. I think there's several things that we could point out, but I wanted to maybe just point out two in the time that we have. First, observe that there's a very direct command here. Paul says in verse 14, do everything without grumbling and arguing. It's a very comprehensive command, right? He says, Do everything, not just most things, not just some things. Don't just apply this when you're at church. Don't just apply this on the days that you feel good. Don't just apply this on Friday, but apply it on Monday as well. Do everything, he says, without grumbling. Grumbling is an inner murmuring. It's a discontented spirit. It's a spirit of discontentment that somehow just kind of simmers inside of us. Grumbling. And then he says, arguing. Now, arguing is an external thing, right? Arguing is external disputing. It's verbal conflict when we exchange words, sometimes harsh words. And by the way, sticks and stones do hurt us or harm us. And words hurt and harm us as well. Again, I'm thinking of the Israelites in the wilderness in Exodus 16 and 17. They were redeemed, but they were still restless, and they were resentful. And Paul is saying that a redeemed people should not sound like a resentful people. Yeah, that's a pretty good word. Redeemed people should not sound like a resentful people. There should be a difference. Grumbling may seem like a minor issue to you. Everybody does it, it's not a big deal. But the truth is, grumbling is dangerous because grumbling attacks God's sovereignty, grumbling affects church unity, and grumbling actually sways gospel credibility. It is important. No wonder Paul was so direct. By the way, the grammar that Paul uses here makes this an ongoing practice, an ongoing discipline, an ongoing command. It's a lifestyle pattern. He's not just saying one time. Clearly, later in the letter, he's going to address some grumbling that was going on between a couple of ladies, and he's going to name them actually at the end of the letter. But I don't think he's just saying this in reference to the one thing that's happening right now in that church. I think he's telling them as an ongoing witness, we should not grumble. A second thing I notice and worth observing is that this is a very distinct calling that Paul gives them. He gives them a very good reason why they should not grumble. Not just because life would be better without it, but I think a very distinct reason. He says, verse 15, so that, don't grumble, so that you may be blameless and pure. Now, don't let that throw you, that blameless and pure. We've talked about that some children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. You see, our attitude is important because our calling is to shine and to shine like stars in the night. That is our testimony, our attitude should reflect the attitudes of Christ so that we light up this dark world that we live in. Paul calls for us to be blameless and pure. And I know that seems like a tall order, but remember the idea of blameless speaks of outward integrity. It doesn't speak of perfection. No, we're not perfect. We're not without any fault. That's not the idea, but it speaks to an outward integrity. Pure. That speaks of our inward sincerity, our inward realness, our inward faith. And then finally, faultless children of God. That speaks to the visible family resemblance. In other words, as children of God, if you're going to be called children of God, then recognize that with that comes some certain responsibilities. And in its contents, that's what makes us different. What makes us different is we don't complain, we don't fight, and we don't fracture. Well, I know that's a hard thing, but we need to see that a non-grumbling church is a radiant church. You want your church to shine in the community. I'll tell you what will make it shine to be a non-grumbling, non-arguing congregation. This early church, I think we learned that grumbling spreads faster than vision, and disputing divides faster than persecution. And I say that one more time. I think the church needs to hear that today. Grumbling spreads faster than vision, and disputing divides faster than persecution. So how do we apply this? How do we make application for today? Well, I think this. Remember. Remember through the day, as you walk through your day, remember this. Three things. First, your attitude reflects your theology. You can't say you believe one thing and your attitude persuade people you believe something different. Your attitude reflects your theology. Remember that as you walk through the day. Second thing, as you walk through the day, remember when our lives are seen in contrast to our culture, our witness gains credibility. When our lives run against the flow of our culture, our witness gains credibility. I know some people may laugh, some people may think you're crazy, some people may talk about you or whatever, but all the while you are building credibility for your faith. I tell you, folks, I think we need to recall that the early church didn't shine because it was comfortable, but because it was different. So here's the takeaway for today. I'm convinced that a complaining spirit doesn't just change your mood, it changes your witness. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us again this moment to be in your word. Lord, I pray that we would be indeed formed by this word, that we would put aside grumbling, that we would put aside complaining, that we would put aside arguing in favor of living lives that shine in a dark world, living lives that run counter to the culture that we live in. Not just that we would be uplifted, but that the Jesus would be uplifted, magnified, and glorified for all to see. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 10:27

Thanks for joining us today. We are so glad that you chose to spend a few moments with us in God's Word. If this episode has encouraged you, we ask that you leave us a review or maybe share this episode with a friend. Also, would you consider sending us a note to let us know what God is doing in your life? Pastor Eddie would love to hear from you. You can find this email in the show notes. Until next time, stay in the scriptures, keep following Christ, and allow your life to be formed by the Word.