“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15)
On Contentment
The contentment of believers reveals to the world the glory of God. The glory of God shines forth through the contented Christian—precisely Paul’s point in Philippians 2:15!
Paul says that, as children of God, believers “shine as lights in the world . . . in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” But in context this seems dependent on their doing all things “without grumbling or questioning.” A murmuring spirit dims the light, preventing discontented Christians from shining like stars.
Why does grumbling diminish the church’s witness? There are at least two reasons for this.
One, a discontented spirit proclaims self and not Christ (see 2 Cor. 4:5—we can proclaim self or proclaim Christ, but not both). The grumbling, discontented person is a self-absorbed person. A witness must point others away from himself and to the Savior.
Two, grumbling makes us like the world, not set apart from it. Unbelievers by their very nature are discontented. Augustine said the heart is restless until it finds its rest in God. The world is not looking for more of the same. The heart of the unbeliever has a longing that this world cannot satisfy. In the midst of this unrest and confusion, the church must offer an alternative—hearts that are at rest and at peace, secure and content in their God.
We must pursue contentment, not only for the good of our own souls, but also for the sake of those who are lost and thirsty because they do not know the God of peace.
Can you think of specific times when your grumbling or complaining has hindered your witness for Christ? Think creatively about those situations and how you could have turned them into opportunities for evangelism.
How is our grumbling an indication of holding back from giving our whole selves to Christ? Take time to pray for God’s grace and that you would completely surrender to Him.
– adapted from “The Secret of Contentment” by William B. Barcley