Furthermore, Jesus warns the complainer about his own inclination toward covetousness and then tells an instructive parable about the foolishness of greed. The warning is severe, and the man's complaint is ultimately denied! Such accounts are numerous in the Gospels.
The antidote to complaining
Are you a "complainiac"? Have you ever complained about people who were more fortunate than you, insensitive toward you, less spiritual than you, outside your group, or just plain wicked? In light of the biblical evidence, believers must understand that such complaining does not enjoy the sanction of Heaven. Jesus Himself rejected these types of complaints and often used them as boomerangs to challenge the complainer spiritually.
As it was in the days when Jesus walked the earth, so it is today. Desiring that His followers in this generation "do all things without complaining," Jesus, in love, often tells us: Complaint denied! Blessedly, the Scriptures go beyond pointing out our faults; they also show us the better way.
How does a person eliminate complaining from his mouth? Is it just a matter of sticking a sock in it? Absolutely not! God uniquely deals with each of His children at the heart level. A liar does not cease to be a liar when he stops telling lies; he ceases to be a liar when he starts telling the truth.
Likewise, a complainer does not cease to be a complainer when he stops complaining; he ceases to be a complainer when he starts giving thanks as a way of life. Christian gratitude must be cultivated in order to conquer complaining.
