8

DOING ALL THINGS WITHOUT COMPLAINING

Chapter Theme

An important application of Philippians 2:14–16 is to avoid complaining.

Icebreakers

• You are visiting with close Christian friends who have one young child. They love their child very much and are eager to cater to his wishes but are afraid of spoiling him. They ask your opinion on child raising. What would you say?

• A family member has slipped into the bad habit of complaining about almost everything. It is driving you to distraction, and you find you don’t even want to be around this person anymore. You value the relationship highly, however, and don’t want it to disintegrate any further. How would you handle the situation?

Group Discovery Questions

1. What tendency comes with gaining wealth?

2. Why are small families in a materialistic society apt to produce discontented children?

3. What happens in most large families mainly because of logistics?

4. What is an unfortunate product of child-centered parenting?

5. What is one of the positive benefits for a child who conforms to authority?

6. Why don’t many young people want to leave home? What kind of employees do they tend to be?

7. When materialistic individuals feel empty inside, what are they apt to do? How does that affect society at large?

8. What are some of the most common things people complain about?

9. When are our concerns productive?

10. Prove from Scripture that it is a sin to complain against God. Use Old and New Testament examples.

11. What is the only proper way to say thank you to God for forgiving our sins?

12. What does the Bible say about contentment, and where does it say it?

13. Why does God hate complaining so much?

14. What are two aspects of shining as lights in a dark world?

15. How does a complaining spirit affect others and the one who possesses it?

Personal Application Questions

1. Are you currently lacking joy and contentment in your life? Here is a scriptural checklist for you to consider:

Are you obeying God’s clearly revealed will as recorded in the Bible? (Ps. 119:111)

Are you aware of any unconfessed sin in your life? (Ps. 51:9, 12)

Are you sharing your faith with others and helping them to grow spiritually? (Phil. 2:17)

Are you filled with the Spirit, consciously yielding yourself to His control? (Gal. 5:19–26)

Are you characterized by a deep love for Christ? (1 Peter 1:8)

2. Do you have the attitude that the Lord owns everything you have? Do you regularly make a distinction between your needs and your wants? Do you avoid buying what you do not need and cannot use? Do you spend less than you make? Do you give sacrificially to the Lord’s work? Being able to give an honest and wholehearted yes to all these questions is crucial to being content with what you have and being free from the love of money (see 1 Tim. 6:6–10).

Focus on Prayer

The Israelites enjoyed tremendous spiritual privileges, as 1 Corinthians 10 attests. List the benefits you enjoy because of your relationship with Christ. Take time each day this week to meditate on those benefits and praise God for His matchless grace in giving them to you—especially when you find yourself tempted to complain about something.

Assignment

Make a general list of what you own, with your name on top. When you finish, cross out your name and write “God’s” in its place. Then specifically thank God for everything on that list. From now on, carefully plan your trips to the store. The only things that should be on your list are what you actually need and can afford. Don’t get caught in the trap of spending more than you make. Finally, determine what you can afford to give to the Lord’s work and then try to give a little more than that. You will be making a sacrifice that will reap eternal rewards.