Not A Time For Grumps

 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

-Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)

Have you ever had one of those conversations with someone and thought, “Well, that was not very helpful.” A simple hello turns into an hour rant about how they wished things were different, the way they used to be. No answers to the twelve-hundred problems they raised, just empty grumblings.

In my years of ministry there is nothing more disheartening than one of these rants. “How come that young man wore a hat in church?” “That mother allowed that baby to cry the entire service.” “When I was growing up people had respect.” “This generation is just a bunch of snowflakes who care about nothing but themselves.”

Although some of the complaints might be true, there is nothing helpful there.

It is easy to complain about how people are acting around you. There are many days all you can do is just shake your head at how people are acting in the world. The issue is that ranting and screaming will never actually change anything and it will not get your thoughts heard.

Most complaints, at least in a church setting, seem to come from the older folks in the congregation. The question that needs to be asked about these complaints is what are you personally doing to give direction? What are you doing to disciple the next generations?

The Church needs our older saints and we must always make sure that they are valued in the life of the body. Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.” All generations of a church should lean into what the older saints have to share. We desperately need it.

Although, no one should expect to be listened to if what is said is harsh for harsh sake.

Let us all seek to speak the truth in love. Wisdom is hard to come by these days, even harder to come by without a grumbling heart behind it.

Application and Things to Think About

1.   Before bringing a concern or issue to someone, ask yourself what your motivation is.

2.   Do people hear you complain more than they hear you encourage?

3.   Pray that God would give you a heart of compassion. That this world won’t make you stale and bitter, but that your hope in Jesus makes you joyful and merciful.