Living on Mission without Grumbling

Living on Mission without Grumbling

Satisfaction is a recurring theme in this passage in 1 Corinthians 10.  This week we look at verses 9 and 10, “Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.”

Death is a pretty serious consequence for grumbling. And why was Paul talking to the Corinthians about this anyway? They weren’t eating manna. They weren’t in the desert.

Maybe they felt like it though, just like we do sometimes. Maybe they felt like they had given up a lot to live as Christians.

Sometimes the way the Lord leads us doesn’t seem fair. If we compare our path to the path of someone else, it might seem like we’re really missing out on something great – like a happy marriage or a job that is both enjoyable and well paid. Sometimes the Lord leads us to or through tough places in order for His will to be done in our hearts and lives. (Just like the people of Israel in the desert.)

How will we respond? We have a couple of choices: we can grumble, or we can give thanks.

If we choose to grumble, it’s a sign that we don’t trust Him. We’re unsatisfied with His provision. We fear that He has forgotten about us. We feel like He doesn’t care.

If we choose to give thanks (and we can always find something to be thankful for,) it proves that we trust Him. We appreciate the way He provides for our needs and we are satisfied. We know He loves and cares for us.

Let’s practice Living on Mission without grumbling; choosing instead to give thanks to God for all that He has given us. God and the people around us are listening.

Pastor Angela