Grumbling; Its Cause and Cure.
The meaning of the word is “to say complainingly or growlingly;” “to utter complaints in a surly tone; express discontent; murmur.” Often are the people of God enjoined to grumble not. “Murmur [grumble] not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged.” James 5:9. “Do all things without murmurings [grumblings] and questionings.” Phil. 2:14. “Using hospitality one to another without murmuring.” 1 Peter 4:9. Of Israel anciently we are often told that they murmured (grumbled) against Moses, against the way, because of the food, on account of various things. It is a disagreeable habit. It brings sourness to the stomach and sourness to the disposition of the one who indulges it. It makes of him a terror or a nuisance everywhere he goes. It is indulged so much that it is likely to break out on any occasion, and render miserable all who are present. There are sometimes disagreeable things to say to others. They are not doing their duty or are doing positive wrong. Somebody must reprove and rightly; but proper, just reproof is not grumbling, tho it may of necessity be often administered. It may be a manifestation of God’s great mercy to the wrong-doer, a token of the sincerest friendship of the reprover. The murmuring, the complaining, the constant grumbling, the faultfinding is an entirely different matter. The true reprover endeavors to save the soul, stop the sinning. The complainer grumbles because he is not suited, he is hindered, he is hurt. He does not like this one’s manner of speech, that one’s style of dress. He grumbles because dinner is late; he grumbles because it is too early; he even grumbles when it is on time, by a comparison with the past. He does not like this food or that food. He grumbles when it rains and when the sun shines. Somehow the chronic grumbler sees everything at a wrong angle. His mental vision is out of focus, the crystalline lenses of his soul are not true. He needs readjusting, making over. The first requisite in reform is not a change of environment. It is not the taking away of the things the grumbler grumbles about; that would be impossible. The source of grumbling lies within. Its tap root is selfishness, pure and simple. It may be nurtured in a sour stomach or a deranged liver, in a bad case of catarrh or dyspepsia, or worn nerves; but the prime cause is selfishness. This is not an easy thing for the grumbler to admit; he is more likely to grumble at the one who suggests it. But his secret of overcoming lies in an appreciation of that disagreeable fact. Let him say, “It is selfish to find fault, to murmur, to complain because things do not suit me; I do that very thing: therefore I am selfish.” Let him then say, “I will confess my sins unto the Lord, and I will claim the promise, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’” Let him then say, “I will pray for His Spirit which He is more willing to give to them that ask Him than are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children (Luke 11:9-13), and then the love of God will be shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit which He bestows” (Rom. 5:5). Then let that erstwhile grumbling soul move over into Romans 8, and abide there. Let him know that verse 32 is forever true. Let him see in all God’s providences blessings; and then let him rejoice evermore, “in everything give thanks.”