Grumbling! Here and Now or Then and There?

Why is so easy for me to grumble, complain, bellyache,  fuss, and whine so often?

Plain and simple, according to the second chapter of Philippians, I am living according to a different calendar than God.  

My dates are all filled up with me getting my rewards for being faithful to God, today, August 25th.  Or tomorrow,  next week, or next year.

God’s looking at a different calendar – eternity.   I want Him to look at mine and since He doesn't, I complain.  I begin to think “ He must be holding out on me”.   “He’s mistreating me” (Exodus 16:8).  So I complain against whoever or whatever I think is keeping me from getting what I  think I deserve.    Ultimately all our grumbling is an incorrect judgment we make about God.

In the context of what Paul has been saying in  Philippians, grumbling is looking for our exaltation before our humiliation is completed.    That is  not how it worked with Christ,  Paul says.  (Philippians 2: 6-11).  Why should it be any different with you and me?

He humbled himself, perfectly, completely and totally.  He fully accomplished the purposes of God in His life.  He humbled himself all the way to His death on a cross and only then was he raised and seated at the right hand of God.

We, (I) want shortcuts to glory.  There aren't any.  God’s timetable is perfect.  Can I trust  Him with it?  Grumbling shows me I usually don’t.

Listen to yesterdays sermon! 
http://gracechurchlebanon.weebly.com/philippians.html