“The Most Accepted Sin”
“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.” Phillippians 2:14-16 (NLT)
Tolerated
At any giving day, all we have to do is get on social media, talk with people, walk into our workplaces, or hear our very own voices and we will witness the most accepted sin. It has become normal for us to start grumbling and complaining before we even walk out our front door. For some of us, this might happen before our feet hit the floor. In an article written by Stephen J Cole on bible.org, Stephen says, “Complaining is probably one of the sins most tolerated by Christians. We tolerate it and perhaps don’t even think of it as sin because we’re all so prone to do it.” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-14-grumble-grumble-not-philippians-2:14-18)
“A Good Cause”
When I give up something, my time, or sacrifice something, I want to know that it is for a good cause. I want to know that my efforts are not wasted. Paul states “that my work was not useless,” at the end of verse 16. He doesn’t want the race to be wasted. So I have asked myself endless questions today as I have thought about Paul and what Philippians chapter 2 means. What parts of my christian race am I spinning my wheels on? What areas am I wasting? Where am I useless? These are all tough questions to give answers to because it steps on my toes.
“Stop Tolerating”
I have a poster in my classroom that says. “Do everything without complaining.” I plan to refer to this poster as I need it and put it on sticky notes on my computer, mirror, refrigerator, and any other direction I tend to catch my eyes. I challenge you to do the same this week and stop tolerating others around you to grumble. Have a kind phrase ready for when they do.
Counting My Blessings,
Susan Browder
https://youtu.be/W86PTsf0cDA
https://youtu.be/W86PTsf0cDA Hawk Nelson Words
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