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A note about this series: I have received numerous compliments and appreciation for presenting these lessons, as well as input. It seems that they are sorely needed. You may have noticed that in many of these lessons I have become passionate. The reasons for this are my concerns, because of experience – both mine and others, as to where such things can lead us. 1) I have already stated that as told in James 3, if we can learn to control all things we can control all things in our lives. 2) Some of what has been said may seem to be personal. In making these observations I have not intended to single out any specific person or group, but rather to encourage all of us to THINK seriously about these things. If anything I am preaching these things at myself, because of weaknesses I know I have. But if it applies to you, so be it. 3) We have issues here that we need to discuss as brethren with honest dialogue. In dealing with these concerns, if we are to successfully work through them with minimal damage, WE ALL NEED TO GIVE CONSIDERATION to these things. Before you say, “Boy they needed that” take a look at yourself and honestly ask, “Am I guilty?” or “Am I capable of doing these things?” IF you are, you need to seriously look to yourself before you become too concerned about the mote in your brother’s eye. Why? Because once something is said, IT CANNOT BE TAKEN BACK! So as I continue to present these lessons, please remember these things.

Today, as we continue our study of the tongue, we address another category of sins. This one will probably hit closer to home with many of us than some of the other categories. We want to talk about sins of dissatisfaction – namely criticisms, complaining and murmuring.

a. We live in a world filled with dissatisfaction. People are ungrateful for what they have and not content with how much they have.

b. The Bible is filled with examples of those who were not content and satisfied.
Perhaps one of the most prevalent examples of dissatisfaction would be Israel in the wilderness. In fact, throughout their history we find their discontent with God and His leaders.
Israel was not content to live without a king and demanded one from Samuel. (1 Samuel 8)
David was not satisfied with his many wives, so he committed adultery with Bathsheba which led to a number of sins. (2 Samuel 11-12).
At times, the disciples of Jesus were not content with the position He gave them. They wanted more – which prompted Jesus to teach them about being servants. Thankfully, most of them later came to understand what God expected of them in this area. (Matthew 20:20-23)
WE also read of angels who “did not keep their proper domain” Jude 6. This example was given to describe false teachers who were NOT content to accept God’s word as is.

c. God’s response to those who are ungrateful and dissatisfied –
We learn that He expects gratitude and contentment in many of the above examples – concerning Israel - fire consumed some, the earth opened up and consumed others, fiery serpents consumed others, all adults (except 2) were forbidden from entering the land of Canaan, etc. Israel was given a king which contributed to their spiritual decline. David was strongly punished because of his sins. Even the disciples of Jesus were rebuked. And angels are kept reserved for destruction.

d. Christians ought to live satisfied and contented lives.
God expects it in our lives.
It is seen in calls to be thankful such as Ephesians 5:20 calls for us to give thanks in all things and 1 Timothy 4:4 – all we have is to be received with thanksgiving.
It is also seen in the numerous passages that call for contentment in our lives.
Philippians 4:11 – Paul had learned to be content in whatever state he was in.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 – Godliness, with contentment is great gain. Be grateful with a little.
Hebrews 13:5 – let your conduct be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have.
The word, content means, “to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing.” The noun form of the word means to be satisfied. (W. E. Vine).

e. Often times when Christians are not satisfied and truly grateful, they express it with their tongues. It is then that sin is usually not far behind.

a. Complaining –
The word complain means “to express grief, pain or discontent” (Webster Collegiate Dictionary). It means you are not happy the way things are and you express it to others. While there is a time when complaints are justified, (such as Acts 6:1 - and we will deal with these) often times they are nothing more than one mouthing his dissatisfaction with the fact that he isn’t getting his way.
The problem is that it seems to be addictive and after a while it becomes a way of life.
We all know of those whom we would refer to as chronic complainers. Every time we see them we expect to hear what is wrong with themselves and everyone else. And as a result, WE TRY TO AVOID THEM! Why? Because complainers are usually negative people and they make you miserable when you are around them.
Consider Israel – they CONSTANTLY complained against God and Moses. Notice the consequences of their complaints as a way of understanding the errors of this conduct.

i. Exodus 5:21 – even before they left Egypt, they complained when Pharaoh responded negatively. A leader sent from God (Moses) follows His commands and is criticized because things didn’t go smoothly.

ii. Exodus 14:11-12 – at the Red Sea they complained that Moses had brought them into the wilderness to die. God delivered them by miraculously dividing the Red Sea.

iii. Exodus 15:24 – before even reaching Mt. Sinai they were complaining about having nothing to drink. God provided water.

iv. Exodus 16:1-3 – they complain because they have no food to eat. God provides them with manna, which would sustain them as long as they were in the wilderness (40 years).

v. Exodus 17:2-3 – again they complain because they have no water. Their complaints frustrate Moses and in turn he complains to God. (Often times, complaining becomes contagious). God again provides instructing Moses to strike the rock.

vi. Numbers 11 – all we have is this manna! God gave them meat. But they go wild and give in to intense cravings. God in anger punishes the people with a great plague.

vii. Numbers 14 – Israel refuses to enter Canaan. God is ready to wipe them out and start over with Moses. He vows that they will wander in the wilderness for 40 years and that all who were above the age of 20 and above.

viii. Numbers 16 – Korah raises a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Those who criticized and complained about Moses following Korah were consumed as the earth opens up and swallows them.

ix. Because of this the people complain again (Num. 16:41-50) noting that Moses and Aaron had killed the people of the Lord (note how they blame the innocent). Again God calls for Moses and Aaron to step back and let Him consume the people. Moses intercedes.

x. Numbers 20 – again they complained about no water. As a result Moses acts beyond God’s instructions and is not permitted to enter Canaan. NOTE: People can only take so much complaining and criticism from others before it affects them.

xi. Numbers 21 – Again they loathe the “worthless bread” 5-6. Fiery serpents are sent through the camp and many die.
Now notice 1 Cor. 10:10 – we are warned to learn from their complaints and to not repeat them.

Jonah was upset with God because he didn’t destroy Ninevah at that time and complained about it (4:8-11).
John 6:41 – the Jews complained against Jesus. In Luke 19:7 – they complained when He went to visit Zacchaues (thinking he was a sinner).
In Philippians 2:14, Paul noted, “do all things without complaining and disputing.” (NKJV)

b. Murmuring, grumbling – essentially it is a type of complaining; only this is done in a suppressed or muttered tone. Have you ever heard someone speak “under their breath”? Usually, when one speaks like this, he is up to something.
Often in dealing with Jesus, His critics whispered and grumbled about Him. Matthew 9:3, after forgiving the sins of a paralytic, the scribes “said within themselves, ‘This man blasphemes!’”
God’s word tells us as Christians to not act like this.
First of all, if we have a complaint, we ought to open about it (IF it warrants addressing at all) and go to the one involved.
Jude 16 – this a product used of false teachers to turn people against someone else.
James 5:9, “do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned” That’s what murmuring and grumbling does.
1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

c. Clamor– terms opposite of grumbling and murmuring. Here the complaining is loud and boisterous. It describes protests loud noises (Webster).
Clamoring often causes confusion. We find this attitude in Acts 21:34 where Paul is arrested in the temple in Jerusalem. The crowd in that verse are described as saying many things often opposite of what others were saying. A confused mob.
Christians are not to live this way. Ephesians 4:31, it is to be put away from among brethren.
1 Corinthians 5:11 says we are not to keep company with one called a reviler (railing) – one who uses abusive speech to stir up others.

d.       Criticism is a specific type of complaining. It is one who is faultfinding – (James 3:13-16). It is complaints directed against others. It is often the most vicious type of sin involving discontent.
Rather than seeking the best in a given situation the critic looks for and points out the worst.   They (as we speak of them here) can always find what is wrong, but he never seems to be interested in the solution to righting those wrongs.    In time it becomes a source of pleasure and self justification to find faults in others.
I am reminded of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11 who bragged about himself and criticized the tax collector. Consider how that Pharisee though he knew what was wrong with everyone else and WHY they were wrong. But there is no indication he really knew his “opponent” NOR DID HE CARE to learn about him. That is the nature of the criticizer; he THRIVES on what is wrong!
The criticizer often becomes a judge of motives as well as one who reads between the lines. He is the one who is very successful at tearing up one with whom he has an issue – even though that issue was never really there in the first place.
The criticizer by his nature is often a bully because he is known for how he deals with anyone who dares to disagree or question him. As a result, many are simply silent around him (lest they be attacked) or he is avoided. Often times the life of a habitual criticizer is a lonely life. Why? Because he has alienated everyone else.
UNDERSTAND, Criticism is not always bad. In fact, at times it is needed. Paul criticized Peter for his hypocrisy in Galatians 2:11-13.   When one is not living as they ought to, those who care about them ought to come to them (but if that one is a criticizer, they may avoid the ‘confrontation’) (James 5:19-20). And quite frankly, one of the biggest problems with criticism is how so many are unwilling to receive it when it is needed.
(In my next lesson, I intend to examine this point in more detail noting the difference between constructive criticism and ungodly criticism.)
But sadly, this is often the justification of the criticizer. Have you ever heard someone say, “I just tell it like it is!”? Often times that is the critic who is about to insult or “rip into” someone. They know of faults they just have to talk about. But DON’T expect to hear any solutions or offers for help. Understand: While something may be true, that does NOT always justify saying it. To understand this has been one of my goals in this entire study. Speech can be true and still be gossip. It can be true and still be HATEFUL and harmful. It can be true and still unnecessarily divide. It can be true and intended to cause stir up trouble. It can be true and still cause irreparable damage.   It can be true and still be cursing your brethren. It can be true and need to NOT be repeated! It can be true and still DAMN your soul to hell unless you repent.
WE have to obey the command to let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6) just as much as we need to go to our brother in need. We have to obey all these passages that speak about putting away grumbling, murmuring, backbiting, evil speech, slander, clamor, etc. , just as much as any other command. And quite honestly, this is the hard one to work on at times.

c. Be aware of what speech is proper and what is improper. The challenge with these sins is the fact that there is a place for proper criticism and complaints. LEARN to distinguish between real proper “criticism” and the ungodly sinful type. Our next lesson will be dedicated to learning to distinguish between the two.

d. GET BUSY – if you are busy doing what you ought to do, you won’t have time to criticize others and complain all the time.
If you have some complaints about the church, I ask, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? Far too many today are ready and willing to complain about what is NOT being done, but in reality they are doing NOTHING themselves. For example: We are not evangelistic as we ought to be! We are not friendly enough! WE don’t do enough for the sick and elderly! We neglect the weak! Bible classes are disappointing! Etc. But if truth be known, we are doing NOTHING to change that – OTHER THAN CRITICIZE.

e. How will you respond? We must be careful to NOT wear our feelings on our sleeves. Many great sayings have been made about criticism. Most of them have to do with IGNORING unjust criticism.

Thus we can see the damage that sins of discontent can cause. As already stated, in our next lesson we are going to examine in great detail HOW to distinguish between godly criticism and those which are sins of the tongue. I urge each of us, including myself, to ask if we are guilty of any of these things. If so, don’t get angry and criticize, instead – do what you have to in order to change. Think about it.

^{^[1]}Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.

^{^[2]}Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

^{^[3]}Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.

^{^[4]}Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.

^{^[5]}Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (164). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.