Right in the middle of Philippians 2, the Holy Spirit issues a challenging directive to disciples of Jesus: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (2:14).
To grumble is to murmur in discontent; to complain sullenly. It’s the opposite of gratitude, and gratitude is exactly where Paul seeks to draw our attention in the first thirteen verses of Philippians 2. There is encouragement in Christ. There is comfort from love. By God’s grace, we can be participants in the Spirit. Our lives can be reshaped by affection, sympathy, and joy. Christ is enabling us to be of the same mind, having the same love. We can be set free from the shackles of selfish ambition and conceit. As members of the body of Christ, we’re looking out for the interests of each other. Christ Jesus has already paved the way, taking the form of a servant. He became obedient to the point of death on a cross… for us! At the name of Jesus, every knee is eventually going to bow. With fear and trembling, we can now work out our own salvation. God is at work within us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Therefore, why would we grumble? Given so much, why would we allow our hearts to settle in the mire of complaint? If we truly believe that this gracious God is at work in us, is discontentment what we really want to set our minds upon? In the light of his mercy and steadfast love, what good reason is there to waste any more time murmuring? We have so much to be grateful for! Therefore, the challenge:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… (2:14-16)
It’s quite the challenge, but a challenge that we as children of God should step up to today. The world already has far too many crooked grumblers and twisted complainers. Let’s hold fast to our God-given hope and shine with a different sort of light.