May 11: Stop Complaining, Start Complying

posted by: Darius Sanders

Scripture
John 6:43
But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.”

Observation
Jesus put these people in their place!  Since Jesus never sinned, it can be easy to get an image of Jesus as a timid guy that let people walk all over Him.  However, this verse says quite the opposite.  Jesus tells the people around him to stop complaining about what He has just told them.  In this case, the people are complaining because Jesus told them that He came down from Heaven.  The people were certain that Jesus came from Mary and Joseph so they were having a difficult time accepting His teaching.  Jesus doesn’t go on to explain Himself, He simply tells the people to stop complaining about what He said.  Sadly, in John 6:66 we find out that some people that just couldn’t accept what He was saying turned away and deserted Him. 

Application
In honor of Mother’s Day, I must point out: Doesn’t Jesus’ reply sound a lot like a mom?  “Stop complaining about what I said and start doing what I told you.”

Too often, we as Christians have a tendency to spend too much of our time complaining about Jesus’ teachings as opposed to simply doing what He taught us to do.  For example, God tells us in Malachi 3 that if we are not giving ten percent of all we make to Him, we are robbing Him.… Yet how many people come to church week in and week out, neglect giving God a tenth of their money, then complain when the pastor gives a message about giving money to God?  These people go to their friends, neighbors, home team members, and family saying, “Can you believe that pastor talked about giving money to the church again!”  I can imagine Jesus looking down from Heaven saying to these people, “Stop complaining about what I said.”  Sadly, most people don’t stop complaining about what He said and instead choose to switch churches when their pastor teaches a message that hits too close to home, such as the “Money Message.”  You see, we can complain about Jesus’ teachings all we want, but that won’t get us anywhere.  In the end, we need to remember that His teachings are the truth that we need to be applying to our lives. 

Prayer
God, I’ll be the first to admit that at times I complain about what You say in the bible instead of simply doing what You tell me to do.  Two things that come to mind are I have a hard time “turning the other cheek” when somebody wrongs me, and I have a hard time taking a “Sabbath Day of rest” for fear that people will think I’m lazy.  Today I’m praying that You will help me to quit complaining about these commands You’ve given me to follow.  Help me to be a follower that spends more time complying with what You’ve called me to do rather than complaining about why I shouldn’t do it.