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"Could I really be a one?" I wondered. And not because number one was actually number one in this scenario. I wanted to be a three.
I sat in the webinar listening to the speaker describe teachers. Ones, twos, and threes. We were categorized. The question was which one — and more importantly — which one did I huddle in. "Threes," he said, "rarely whine." They take each day in stride, love the boss, get along with peers, love students, and embrace change with a smile. Twos do all of those things most of the time. But the ones? They do them rarely. They'd rather whine … and complain. All of a sudden, I felt guilty. I wasn't a one, but some days, I didn't feel like a three either.
Moses dealt with a bunch of ones.
Exodus 16:2 – There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. (NLT)
As God's representative leading the Israelites to their promised land, he continually heard their complaining. Not enough meat. Insufficient water. Didn't like the food God provided. Members of the whiner's corner.
When I step into the complainer's corner, I express my ingratitude for what God has done in my life in the past and what He's doing now. I, in essence, say, "God, you're not doing too good of a job with my life."
Whining also demonstrates a misunderstanding of how God is going about meeting my needs. I don't always do an admirable job of distinguishing between my wants and needs — or even of meeting my needs in an adequate manner. God does. His methods might not be the avenues I'd choose, but faith leads me to believe that He knows what's best.
Are you a member of the whiner's corner? Or a number one slipping toward a zero? Why not step into the gratitude circle?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, when we're tempted to complain, motivate us to rejoice instead. Amen.
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Good challenge Martin. I’m striving to stay away from the whiner’s corner!
Blessings.
Good lesson Martin. How we sometimes fall into that category. We should be grateful we do not get what we deserve. Thanks for the reminder.
I always enjoy your writing, but didn’t know you wrote for other daily devotionals.
“Pressured to Lean – The Upper Room”
I read 6 different ones, and there you were today.
(FL)
I just read your devotional for today, July 21, in the Upper Room daily devotional booklet. Is this a coincidence or was it planned that we are praying with you twice today?
Thank you for this ministry, Martin. God bless you.
Good “one” Martin!
Thanks for writing to us.
Tempted to whine, feeling lack, now my signal to look up and see The LORD and all He supplies.
Martin, may I tell you – SHOUT to you – how very appropriate this particular message is for me right now! A situation has brought me to a very low spot, and God has used your words to give me a push out of the whiners’ corner and back into His services. Bless you!
(AL)
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the devotional. It reminded me of a joke I thought I would share with you on the off chance you hadn’t heard it…
Once upon a time, a young lad joined a devout religious order of monks. Silence was very important and the monks were only granted the opportunity to speak two words every 10 years. So the first 10 years go by and it comes time for the monk to share his two words with the rest of the order.
“Bed hard”, says the monk.
Ten more years go by and he has his second chance to share two words with the group. “Food bad”, he says.
Another decade passes and this time when it comes time to say his two words he says “I quit”.
To which the head monk responds “Well good riddance! All you’ve done since you got here is complain!”
(Arkansas)
Good morning Martin,
What an interesting concept — is a person a 1, a 2, or a 3? Most of us would like to confidently say we’re a 3 but are likely really a 2….then that part of us that is a 1 appears. When we allow the attention-seeking 1 part of us to take over, it isn’t good. I’m calling it attention-seeking because that, in essence, is what a whiner does… seeks and gets attention, albeit not “good” attention, but attention all the same!
Today, society likes the add-water-and-stir way of being, but that isn’t God’s way. God’s timing in all things is perfect and if we’d simply remember that, and be thankful that we have a loving and ever-present Father in Heaven who watches over us and cares for us, then the 1 in us would become more silent as we moved closer to being a 3!
Thanks for the reminder that when we’re being a complaining, unhappy 1, we are telling our Heavenly Father that we aren’t satisfied with what He’s done for us to date. Far better that we should work on becoming happy 3’s!
Do continue to write.
God bless!
Good Morning Martin
Well spoken, need I say more! He that hath an ear, let him hear.
(USA)
Dear Martin Wiles,
Thank you for your three, two, one, devotional.
(Dear God, please make us positive, with yea meaning yea.)
Thank you for no zeros.
God bless you, Keep writing.
Good Morning Martin:
What a great message. Too often we whine and complain about nothing.
I was taught to talk to the Lord in prayer about things we are unhappy with.
When I grew up whining was a no, no. One could get angry and show their disapproval or dislike of something or someone but absolutely NO WHINING. Instead, do something about it.
A fine message.