Are you given to a critical spirit? Do you get irritated, ticked more often than you like? Does there seem to always be a bur under your saddle? Is internal dissatisfaction often churning in your mind? Your heart? Are you cynical about everything and everyone; always looking under layers and layers for a "hidden agenda"?
You might just have a critical spirit.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
A critical spirit was the cause of people forsaking the promise of God both in life and in eternal life.
The word complain, grumble occurs 117 time in the scripture, 89 of them in the OT and most of these are related to those delivered by God from bondage but not trusting in God for freedom. Of the 28 references in the NT, there are illustrations of faithless people and command to people of faith to not do it.
Some people never voice a complaint but scream it through their none verbals.
Complaining is like the root of bitterness described in Hebrews. It is a symptom of something that has now become more important to you than God. That inner turmoil is usually projected on others in the form of blame and criticism. It corrupts more than the eye can see. It's evil caused a whole generation to stumble and it on of the sins that characterizes those who will be cast out of the kingdom at the end of the age.
What is the remedy?
To Praise God -- Adore Him.
To seek and draw near to God - Love Him
To walk with God -- Follow Him.
To listen to God -- Learn from Him.
To obey God -- Trust Him.
As the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" by Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961) reminds us in chorus line:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Put off the critical spirit, turn your eyes upon Jesus and start being JOYFUL! More than you understand depends on it!
