I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT? (part-57)

I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT?

RELATIONSHIPS (continued)

We are told to “offer hospitality to one another”.
    Offer hospitality to one another
    without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)

Did you notice the last part of that verse? It says ‘without
grumbling’. I have seen people who pretended they were
very excited when someone came to visit them.

When it was time for them to leave, the host would even say
something like, “You don’t have to go now do you? Can you
stay a little longer?”

However as soon as they were out the door, the host would say,
“I am so glad they finally left, I don’t know why they came in the
first place!” That is what I would categorize as ‘grumbling’.

It happens in other situations as well. I have seen people griping
the entire time they were preparing for a visit from someone.
They were making preparations which may have included
cooking a meal or cleaning the house. However as soon as the
visitor walks in the door, the host acts as if their visit was the
highlight of their day.

Not only do these two examples show grumbling, but they also show
hypocrisy. Those who witness our hypocritical actions will naturally
have doubts regarding our honesty. It takes years to build trust, but
it can be lost quickly when others witness our acts of dishonesty.
When others feel they can no longer trust us, it can take years to
rebuild that trust, and sometimes it is never rebuilt.

Paul also has something to say about not grumbling.
    Do everything without grumbling or arguing
    (Philippians 2:14)

Are there benefits to not grumbling?
Paul says there ARE benefits…he continues with,
    so that you may become blameless and pure,
    “children of God without fault in a warped
    and crooked generation.” Then you will shine
    among them like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:15)

Paul says that when we choose not to grumble, we become
blameless and pure. He also says that we will be considered
‘children of God’ and will ‘shine like stars in the sky’.
    How and why do we shine like stars? Because the darker
    the situation, the brighter a light shines. As we know, the
    world we live in qualifies as ‘a warped and crooked generation’.
    That sounds like a very dark time, doesn’t it? A dark world
    needs light and that’s where ‘non-grumbling’ Christians are
    called to shine.

    Grumbling believers do not cast a bright light because their
    brightness has been dimmed by a worldly attitude. If we are
    ‘grumblers’ then why would a world of lost and dying people
    be attracted to us and our faith in the Lord? Wouldn’t they
    say to themselves, “They are no different than I am, so why
    would I be interested in this Jesus they talk about?”

We have to be realistic and know that we will have down times
in our lives, but we should not be characterized as ‘grumblers’.
During those gloomy times, when we feel all of our strength is
gone, what should we do?

David was faced with an unbelievable ‘strength draining’ time
in his life. He had been fighting the enemies of Israel, avoiding
Saul’s attempts to take his life, and the city where he lived was
destroyed by fire. In addition, the women and children were
taken as captives. How distressed was David (and his men)?
    So David and his men wept aloud
    until they had no strength left to weep.
    (1 Samuel 30:4)

    Adding to his depression, the men with David were so bitter
    about the loss of their sons and daughters that they talked
    about stoning David. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it. Whenever
    something goes wrong, many folks want to find someone to
    blame (even though sometimes they themselves are the cause
    of the problem).
        David was greatly distressed because the men
        were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter
        in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But
        David found strength in the Lord his God.
        (1 Samuel 30:6)

    So how did David react to being ‘greatly distressed’? Did
    he grumble? No, he found strength in the Lord. That is
    the message God’s Word gives to His children. When
    everything seems overwhelming, rather than grumble, we
    need to turn to the Lord. He is the source of our strength.
    Others may be selfish and show little concern for our
    situations, but God cares about us, is interested in us,
    and wants to renew us with strength.
        Even youths grow tired and weary, and young
        men stumble and fall; but those who hope in
        the LORD will renew their strength. They will
        soar on wings like eagles; they will run and
        not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
        (Isaiah 40:30-31)

        Not only will we have our strength renewed, but
        our spirits will be lifted (we will be encouraged).
        How much will our spirits be lifted? God’s Word
        says we will be ‘soaring on wings like eagles’.
        Sounds pretty high doesn’t it?

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