My dad used to say to people who complained, “Cry me a river. Build me a bridge. And, get over it!” While that might not be the most sympathetic and compassionate statement, it is probably something we all need to hear more often than we would like to admit.
An even better statement in response to one’s whining and complaining is found in Philippians 2:14-15 – “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.”
On Sunday morning, Lord willing, I will be preaching about our “Great God of Judgment” from Malachi 2:17 – 3:6, and as has been clear in this series through Malachi, God is worthy and deserving of our worship, not our complaining. Furthermore, our complaining is a sin against Him.
So, stop whining and complaining!
“About what?” you ask.
About anything. You name it – we like to complain about it. Let us stop it!
Here are two reasons I want to encourage you (and myself) to stop whining and complaining.
1. COMPLAINING BRINGS JUDGMENT
Just like the Israelites in Malachi’s time opened the door for God’s judgment through their rebellion and hypocritical complaining, so do we when we sin against God. And, complaining is sin.
We are not told to do some things without complaining or arguing – comfortable things, enjoyable things, or easy things. “Do everything without complaining and arguing…” Philippians 2 put no qualifiers on that statement. “Everything.” No exceptions.
“You have wearied the Lord with your words.
Yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?”
When you say, “Everyone who does what is evil is good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”
Malachi 2:17
That statement at the end of Malachi 2 could be addressing us, could it not? But God is here. God will judge sin. You and I and every other person on this planet deserve His judgment, and yet in His mercy and grace, He offers a way out. Stop complaining because complaining brings judgment.
2. COMPLAINING FORGETS GOD
Often when we are tempted to complain or talk about complaining, we might say something like, “There is always someone who has it worse.” While that is true, though, that is not the reason we need to stop complaining.
What if you could not find someone who had it worse? What if your situation was like that of Job’s, and you lost everything? Would it be okay to complain then? No.
Our reason for being grateful and not complaining is not because someone else has it worse, but rather because God is the best. And, complaining forgets God. Complaining closes our eyes and our hearts to God’s provision, God’s kindness, God’s goodness, God’s mercy, God’s justice, and God’s faithfulness.
Right before that challenge by Paul in Philippians 2, he explained the selfless sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord (Philippians 2:5-11). He, Jesus Christ, is our reason for gratitude. He is the reason we should and can do everything without complaining and arguing.
After all, Jesus made a way for us to be right with God now and for eternity. Stop complaining because, in Christ, you have everything you need and so much more. Jesus is that way out from God’s eternal judgment. He is the Only Way. Stop complaining and turn to Jesus.
Dogs whine and complain, as they usually lack awareness about how good they truly have it. 
Micah likes to hand-feed Lottie, who never whines and complains in these moments.
DrakeCity 